Who will Raiders pick in 2023 NFL Draft? Here’s The Bee’s mock draft with national picks

The NFL draft is weeks away and mock drafts are up and running at a feverish pace as draft hopefuls hope to hear their name called by Roger Goddell in Kansas City.

The Las Vegas Raiders have the seventh overall pick and can sit there and select the best player that fits their needs.

The draft is set for April 27-29.

Will the Raiders select a quarterback? Or how about a defensive player that the Raiders need all the help in the world.

You can start anywhere on defense that the Raiders could go with. The needs for the Raiders include every position on defense.

The Raiders hardly touched on any free agent defensive players. That means one thing: the Raiders could go heavy on defense in the NFL draft.

The Fresno Bee

Updated April 7

The Bee used Pro Football Focus’ draft simulator in the first round and had a choice between QB Will Levis, CB Devon Witherspoon, tackle Peter Skoronski, wide receiver Quentin Johnson or cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

While Gonzalez seems tempting, The Bee elected to go with Witherspoon who will give the Raiders an immediate play-maker to help cornerback Nate Hobbs.

PFF said ”Witherspoon had one of the best seasons we’ve ever graded from a college cornerback. He was targeted 63 times in 2022 and allowed only 22 catches for 206 yards with three picks and 14 pass breakups. That comes out to 3.3 yards per target. He’s one of the feistiest cornerbacks in the class.”

That is what the Raiders need: a feisty cornerback.

ESPN

Updated April 4

Todd McShay predicts the Raiders to select CB Devon Witherspoon who “smothers receivers with his quickness and instincts in coverage, and he allowed a 5.2 QBR when targeted last season, which ranked second in the nation.”

McShay: ‘ll just say I’ve heard buzz that it isn’t interested in using a high pick on a QB unless Young or Stroud were miraculously available. Bringing in Jimmy Garoppolo fills the void, and the Raiders can always add a passer later in the draft or go hunting for a younger option next year.”

NFL.COM

Updated April 4

Lance Zierlein says the Raiders will trade the pick to the Houston Texans and will select 12th overall and go with offensive tackle Darnell Wright of Tennessee.

Zierlein: “Cornerback should be an option here, too, but supply and demand points to tackle. Wright has good size and strength. He was impressive at the NFL Scouting Combine and can get the job done at right tackle.”

CBS Sports

Updated April 6

Will Brunson said the Raiders will go with edge rusher Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech.

Brunson: “The Raiders could go QB here (Levis and Richardson are suddenly slipping!) but Chandler Jones seems destined to become a salary cap casualty after this year, which means Vegas needs to replenish its pass rush this offseason.”

Chris Trapasso, however, believes the Raiders will select offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. of Ohio State.

Trapasso: “Johnson is too long with too clean of film for the Raiders -- with Jimmy Garoppolo under center — to pass on him here.”

Pete Prisco says the Raiders will go with Kentucky QB Will Levis.

Prisco: “Levis has all the tools to be a big-time quarterback, but patience will be needed. The Raiders have Jimmy Garoppolo, so Levis could sit for a year or two. They have to try and land their franchise passer, so why not here with a top-10 pick?”

Pro Football Focus

Updated April 4

Michael Renner predicts the Raiders to select CB Christian Gonzalez of Oregon.

Renner: “Gonzalez’s traits are difficult to pass on for teams with a need at cornerback, and the Raiders’ cornerback room is almost barren at this point.”

The Sporting News

Updated April 6

In his latest mock draft, Vinnie Iyer predicts the Raiders to pick Christian Gonzalez of Oregon.

Iyer: “The Raiders should think more about immediate impact defender in the Sauce Gardner mold early after doing a lot of good offensive work in NFL free agency for Josh McDaniels, including landing Jimmy Garoppolo for QB. Gonzalez went gangbusters at the Combine to confirm his status as the top corner in the class. He has great athletic pedigree and made sure to remind everyone about his playing speed and quickness for such a big cover man.”

Pro Football Network

Updated April 4

Dalton Miller says it’s offensive lineman Peter Skoronski of Northwestern.

Miller: “The Raiders need offensive line help. However, Kolton Miller locks down the left side, and Jermaine Eluemunor was surprisingly good on the right side for Las Vegas a season ago. That brings us to Peter Skoronski, who might be the closest thing the NFL has seen to Zack Martin since … Zack Martin.”

Walter Football

Updated April 4

It’s an offensive tackle for Walter Cherepinsky, who believes the Raiders to call out Paris Johnson Jr.

Cherepinsky: “Paris Johnson has been linked to the Bears as a possibility to enhance Justin Fields’ protection. Given how often Fields was under siege last year, Chicago must consider Johnson if the top defensive linemen are off the board. Johnson has good athleticism for an offensive lineman, and he can play both tackle and guard.”