Solid Starter
Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State – Round 1 
The Raiders made some regrettable picks on safeties over the past years, but Abram should break that trend as he was loved in the scouting community and considered one of the safest players in the 2019 draft. Abram is a well-rounded, hard-nosed safety who plays the game the right way. He should quickly become a solid starter for Oakland.
In the ground game, Abram is excellent. He is a good tackler who comes downhill aggressively with zero hesitation to meet backs in the hole or backfield. Abram is very dangerous with plays in front of him and him attacking. As a pro, Abram has enough size and plenty of physicality to be the eighth man in the box. He should be an asset as a run defender and will help to make his team much tougher to run on. With his strength and tenacity, Abram can take on big backs. With his speed and tackling technique, Abram is adept at taking down speed backs. He could be one of the better run-defending safeties in the NFL during his career.
In pass coverage, Abram is a solid defender entering the NFL. He is good zone coverage, using his instincts to be around the ball and make plays. Abram also is an enforcer in the middle of the field who will punish receivers for crossing the middle. With his speed and athleticism, Abram can play some man coverage on tight ends. He should be a nice safety to help defenses match up against receiving mismatches at tight end. Abram also can help on big receivers in man coverage. He has range in the middle of the field and is able to cover a lot of ground.
Abram has the athletic flexibility to contribute as a free safety. He has the speed and instincts to line up deep to defend the deep part of the field. However, sources say the position is not a natural fit for him. He has range and athletic ability but is better coming forward. Thus, he could play some free safety, but his NFL team probably would not want him playing free safety on an every-down basis. Abram also has some limitations in man coverage on slot receivers. He is not a good fit and could give up plays if he is forced to play man on fast and shifty slot receivers. Still, Abram is a solid coverage safety who should be reliable to defend the middle of the field.
I surveyed seven teams in the final days before the start of the 2019 NFL Draft, and all seven had Abram as their top-rated safety. As soon as his rookie season, Abram could be a good contributor for Oakland, and he could go on to a long, productive career as a solid starter.
2018: Kolton Miller, OT
2017: Obi Melifonwu, S
2016: Shilique Calhoun, DE
2015: Clive Walford, TE
2014: Gabe Jackson, G
2013: Sio Moore, LB
Most Likely To Bust
Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson – Round 2 
Aside from Derek Carr, my track record here is pretty good, as all of the rest of that group were busts for Oakland and obviously it is too early to make any judgements on Arden Key. The Raiders needed another long-term starting corner to go with Gareon Conley, but I think Mullen was a reach in the second round. He has a first-round skill set, but there’s a reason why a cornerback with a tremendous combination of size and speed was passed on by so many NFL teams, including a bunch that needed cornerback help. The reason is poor technique, and as a result of that, I think Mullen has serious bust potential for the Raiders.
In speaking to some team sources, Mullen is a polarizing prospect. The sources who like him graded him in the second round, which illustrates that even they see flaws weighing down his first-round skill set. The evaluators who didn’t like him had him graded as a late third- or fourth-round pick.
Here is what one area scout said about Mullen before the 2019 NFL Draft, “I just don’t see it with him. I don’t like his technique. I don’t like his feet, and he got on his heels a lot. He gets off balance coming out of transition and looks tight opening it up. But he’s long and can run, so maybe somebody reaches on him.”
Perhaps the Raiders can coach him up and Mullen proves to be a really good pick, but of their four selections made in the top 40, Mullen looks like the riskiest one with the most bust potential.
2018: Arden Key, DE
2017: Eddie Vanderdoes, DT
2016: Jihad Ward, DE
2015: Mario Edwards, DT
2014: Derek Carr, QB
2013: D.J. Hayden, CB
Potential Boom Pick
Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama – Round 4 
Jon Gruden is known as a quarterback guru and a passing-driven head coach, but among the misunderstood aspects of Gruden are he does want to run the ball and loves to have a do-it-all back who can carry the ball while being a dangerous outlet receiver. Jacobs is a perfect fit for those things, and I think he could be extremely productive in Gruden’s offense.
For the NFL, Jacobs is a power runner with a strong build and a burst to hit the hole. He is hard-charging downhill hill back who has a quick first-step to hit the hole before it closes. Jacobs also possesses a second gear to get to the secondary and is tough for defensive backs to tackle, as typically he delivers the blow with ferocity. Jacobs is an angry runner who has an intimidating style. With his size and speed, he could be a devastating one-cut downhill running back.
Jacobs is not very elusive. He is more of a downhill runner who will run through contact rather than try to juke defenders in the open field.
As a receiver, Jacobs is well suited for the current NFL. He runs good routes and has soft hands. Jacobs is a real threat in the passing game, ripping off yards in chunks. As a receiver, Jacobs shows a surprising ability to adjust to the ball. With his speed and power, Jacobs is a mismatch weapon in the passing game because linebackers will have a very difficult time running with him and defensive backs are going to be hard pressed to tackle him.
For added value, Jacobs has returning experience on special teams. Thus, even if he struggles to adjust to his NFL playbook early in his career, he could contribute as a rotational back and special teams contributor.
With his size, power, speed, and running and receiving abilities, Jacobs looks like he could be an impactful three-down starter quickly in the NFL. Jacobs has serious athletic upside, and it would not surprise this analyst if he is a Pro Bowler early in his career. I think Gruden is going to get Jacobs a lot of touches as a runner and receiver. He has real boom pick potential for Oakland.
2018: Nick Nelson, CB
2017: Gareon Conley, CB
2016: Karl Joseph, S
2015: Amari Cooper, WR
2014: Khalil Mack, LB
2013: Menelik Watson, OT
Future Depth Player
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson – Round 5 The Raiders added some excellent receivers this offseason in Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, but I think Hunter Renfrow could prove to belong as a good offseason addition in the early years of his career. Oakland doesn’t need Renfrow to be a feature receiver, but I think he could be an asset as a slot receiver who rotates into the game in three-wide receiver sets. Renfrow is a pure football player who has very good route-running, hands and instincts. He won’t blow away defenses with size or overwhelming speed, but he finds a way to win, and I think he could be very good slot weapon in the NFL. Renfrow was a good depth addition in the fifth round.
2018: Maurice Hurst, DT
2017: David Sharpe, OT
2016: Connor Cook, QB
2015: Jon Feliciano, G
2014: Keith McGill, CB
2013: Tyler Wilson, QB
Walt’s 2019 NFL Draft Grades:
4. Clelin Ferrell, DE/OLB, Clemson FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY, SASHI SUFFERIN SUCCOTASH Grade
Oh no. OHHH NOOOOO. Mike Mayock, what are you doing?
This is insane. I joked that Clelin Ferrell could go this high in my live draft blog, but I was only kidding. Clelin Ferrell is a poor pick. This selection provides absolutely no value. The Bills are reportedly desperate to move up for Ed Oliver. Couldn’t the Raiders have traded down to Buffalo’s choice, accepting less in value to make the deal happen? No one in the top seven is taking Ferrell. That said, I don’t think Ferrell will be a bad player. In fact, I think he’ll be a good pass rusher for the Raiders. I could see him becoming an occasional Pro Bowler. The problem is that this is a horrible value selection for the Raiders, who could’ve obtained more resources for a player who was expected to be available in the teens.
24. Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama B- Grade
I’m not crazy about picking a non-elite running back in the first round. Jacobs is a good player, but he’s definitely not elite. There are so many viable running back options who will be available in the second round, so this selection doesn’t seem necessary. However, I can at least understand the decision. Jon Gruden loves to run the ball, and with Marshawn Lynch retiring, there was a huge void at the position. Jacobs should be very productive in Oakland, assuming the team addresses its offensive line at some point.
27. Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State B+ Grade
Ian Rapoport just said the Raiders wanted Montez Sweat, but his teammate is not a poor alternative. Charlie Campbell actually slotted Johnathan Abram to the Raiders at this spot, so this makes sense. Abram, arguably the top safety in this class – sorry, Packers – is a logical choice for Oakland, a team that had to upgrade the position. This is a solid pick for sure, as Abram will strengthen the secondary. He fits the range, so it seems as though an A- or B+ is in order.
40. Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson B- Grade
I mocked Trayvon Mullen to the Raiders in the second round of both the real mock and the re-draft, but I thought that was a bit too high for him. I had Mullen pegged as a third-round prospect, so I think this is a bit too early to take him. However, the Raiders traded down twice prior to making this pick, so I don’t mind the value aspect of this selection too much. Also, Mullen has plenty of upside as a developmental cornerback. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to help much this year, but he could be a terrific player for them in the future.
106. Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan A Grade
There are some excellent picks being made atop Round 4, and this is another one. Maxx Crosby could’ve been chosen a whole round earlier than this. He’s a talented edge rusher who happens to be physically gifted. He also has high character marks. He needs to add some bulk, but he has tremendous upside to fill Oakland’s greatest need.
129. Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston A- Grade
Isaiah Johnson has immense upside because of his size (6-2, 208) and speed combination. He doesn’t have much experience, which is why he’s a fourth-round pick. However, he could have been chosen earlier than this, and I like the Raiders using this pick to gamble on his incredible potential to fill a big need.
137. Foster Moreau, TE, LSU B Grade
The Raiders were looking for a replacement for Jared Cook, and here he is. Sort of. Foster Moreau is more of a blocker than a receiver, but he has the athleticism to emerge as a quality pass-catcher. However, he didn’t play very well as a receiver at LSU, though he has high character traits.
149. Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson B Grade
Analytics people will hate Hunter Renfrow because he was one of the worst testers at the combine, and he’s “only” a slot receiver. However, Hunter Renfrow could be the latest “too small, too slow” receivers who ends up overachieving in the slot. I think this is a fine pick in the fifth round.
230. Quinton Bell, DE/OLB, Prairie View A- Grade
Mike Mayock stumped the truck with this pick, but I had him in my top 500, so I won’t criticize this pick. On the contrary, I think it’s pretty good. Bell caught my attention with an amazing pro day performance. He leapt 41 1/2 inches and posted an 11-4 broad jump despite weighing 240 pounds. He’s a freak athlete and has immense upside. If coached up well, he could make something of himself.
2019 NFL Draft Team Grade: B- . Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
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