The Oakland Raiders have drafted masterfully these past few years, and now they have a roster on the cusp of competing for a playoff spot. The Raiders will need to hit big on a cornerback or safety, as this secondary is the only thing holding them back from a dominant playoff performance. NFL legend Charles Woodson retired after 18 seasons in the league, which should leave a gaping hole in this secondary.
The Raiders secondary is made up of 2013 first round bust DJ Hayden, waiver wire pickup David Amerson, injured safety Nate Allen, and Neiko Thorpe. This area of the roster for the Raiders must be overhauled as soon as possible, and they will get their chance to make some pretty big moves during the 2016 NFL Draft. The Raiders will have the 14th overall pick in the draft and will have an opportunity to address some of their key needs right away.
Oakland could potentially move up in this draft so they would have a better shot at landing a top cornerback or safety. It would be shocking to see the Raiders get into position for talented prospect Jalen Ramsey, as he is estimated to be selected within the first four picks. Vernon Hargreaves III, Eli Apple and Mackensie Alexander, however, should all be very available and within their range.
Hargreaves III is the best of the bunch and likely the best pure cornerback in this draft, so if the Raiders could somehow sneak into the top 10, it is very likely that they could select the talented corner out of Florida. The Raiders could also take a corner in the second round, as Kendall Fuller, Artie Burns and Xavien Howard are all capable options to build the secondary around.
The Raiders trading up means that they would have to find a partner, and this should be easier than some think. The Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles have all expressed a desire to trade back if the price is right, so the Raiders will just need to decide whether or not they want to make the jump into the top 10.
