The Oakland Raiders have the number 5 pick in the NFL draft and many experts feel that in mock drafts, the team will go after Has Sammy Watkins, Blake Bortles, Jadeveon Clowney, Mike Evans, Jake Matthews or Greg Robinson as their pick in 2014 and after the combine, those names stack up as some of the best in this class.
The Raiders aren't sure of Terrelle Pryor or Matt McGloin are the answers at quarterback and that could lead them to select someone like Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater or Blake Bortles with their pick to take over as the franchise quarterback. Pryor showed some flashes last season, but head coach Dennis Allen wasn't totally sold and now general manager Reggie McKenzie will have an interesting hand to play at the draft.
The team could target a quarterback, but they can't get too hot on anyone, as a number of teams in the top five even need a QB and the top three names could be gone by the time the Raiders pick. The draft is deep this season and there is a good chance the team will get someone they want, but some franchises don't want to leave it that much up to chance. The Raiders will be in play for a big name and apart from Clowney, it looks as if that player and pick at number five will be on the offensive side of the ball.
Sammy Watkins has long been considered a likely pick, as the Raiders love speed and that was why they picked Denarius Moore before and now they could do it again with Watkins. During his Clemson career Watkins was very productive and he showed off that speed this past season with over 1,000 yards and he put up some blazing speeds at the combine, doing a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and he also was impressive in the vertical leap and the broad jump. Watkins had 101 catches for over 1,400 yards with 12 touchdowns last season and that should make him a top five to top 10 pick.
Bortles is the likely quarterback that the team could look at, as Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater could be off the board by the time they pick and that could lead to Bortles. The UCF quarterback broke out with his Fiesta Bowl game, but he has the perfect size to make it in the NFL and he had an impressive 40 time and workout and that could lead to him being a top five pick as well. He passed for 3581 yards and 25 touchdowns last season and he could help transform the offense under Allen and Greg Olson.
The real prize could be wideout Mike Evans, as he put up some amazing numbers at Texas A&M and has been looking like a physical freak at the combine with his 6-foot-5 body and 231 pound frame. Evans is a big man and he had a great vertical leap and a solid 40 for someone his size and after putting up 69 catches for 1394 yards and 12 touchdowns with Johnny Manziel, he could be in the mix in the top five.
