Georgia football: Roquan Smith at no. 10 on Mel Kiper’s mock draft
Mel Kiper’s mock draft is out and he projects the Oakland Raiders to select Georgia football linebacker Roquan Smith with the 10th overall pic.
If ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper is correct, Georgia football will have a player selected in the top 10 of this year’s draft. Kiper believes that the Oakland Raiders will use their 10th overall pic on the unanimous All-American Roquan Smith. Smith was also a unanimous All-SEC selection and the winner of the Butkus Award. He led the Bulldogs in tackles this season.
On Kiper’s mock draft, Smith is the third SEC player behind Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick (cornerback) and Calvin Ridley (wide receiver). However, Smith is the first linebacker on the board. Kiper doesn’t think any linebacker, inside or out, will go ahead of Smith.
Given Smith’s stats, awards, and quick rundown of his seasons highlights, he’s a no-brainer as the top linebacker in this years draft. But he’s also a no-brainer for the Oakland Raiders. They finished 6-10 this season, a step down from their 12-4 record in 2016.
Just Blog Baby (Fansided’s Oakland Raiders site) mentions inside linebacker as a position that the Raiders need to address in this years draft. CBS Sports also say that the Raiders need a linebacker.
Watching the Raiders, it’s clear that inside linebacker was a hole on this years defense. Someone of Smith’s talent and intensity would do well in Oakland. He may also help the Raiders regain the control of their division. Something that franchise hasn’t experienced in decades.
Of course, this is just Kiper’s mock draft. There are still dozens of other mock drafts to look for before the NFL Draft this April. And Dawn of the Dawg will cover each of them in length before the real draft.
Next: 2018 recruiting homepage
It is encouraging to see Smith as the first linebacker on Kiper’s board. That reinforces what Georgia fans have known all along, that Smith is the best at his position. Even though Smith isn’t projected to go in the top-five, at least it’s because those teams do not need or want a linebacker.