The Oakland Raiders don’t want to draft a quarterback with the fifth overall pick, and with an excess of needs up and down the roster, the team may be better suited to move out of the spot and accumulate more picks.
That’s their logic, according to TFY Draft Insider Tony Pauline, who reported the Raiders are shopping their first pick. There has been plenty interest early on, but no team has been able to offer the team an enticing enough package. The No. 5 pick could generate interest from teams in the hunt for Khalil Mack, Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins.
If and when the Raiders are able to move out of the fifth spot, they would likely select former Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr as their first-round selection.
Interestingly enough, it has been reported the Raiders won’t consider taking Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles at No. 5, so it justify reports from early in the spring that Carr is ranked higher on the team’s draft board.
In March, the Fresno Bee reported that Oakland has “a massive crush” on Carr and was considering a trade out of the No. 5 spot to nab Carr sometime later in the first round.
According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Confora, Raiders owner Mark Davis is “smitten” with Carr and could potentially put pressure on the team to draft him in the first round.
In Oakland, I hear owner Mark Davis is smitten with quarterback Derek Carr, and that pressure could be mounting on the front office to take him in the first round. Now, No. 5 overall is awful high, but if you hear about the Raiders trying like heck to move back — as they did a year ago before selecting DJ Hayden, who some viewed as a reach that high — I’d start penciling in Carr as the possible pick. Keep an eye on that.
One potential trading partner the Raiders may have are the San Francisco 49ers. With a plethora of draft picks in the first few rounds, the Niners have enough ammunition to move up from No. 30 into the top five, where it could draft either Mack or Evans.
Picking fifth would likely assure San Fran of getting either Mack or Evans, though it may be more of a risk for the Raiders. Carr may be coveted by teams picking in the middle of the first round such as the Arizona Cardinals and would not be a lock to be there waiting when the Raiders are on the clock at No. 30.
