Sandwiched between two Rams picks today is their old adversary, the Oakland Raiders. In the first round, Levi Damien of Silver and Black Pride targeted bruising offensive tackle Jack Conklin to help keep Derek Carr upright. In the second round, the pick is a player who can make things tough for Carr's counterparts.
2016 NFL mock draft: Oakland Raiders choose Darian Thompson
Oakland’s second pick in the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft is a difference-making safety from Boise State.
44. Raiders: Darian Thompson, S, Boise State
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Damien: There was no safety worthy of a pick at 14 overall, or the Raiders may have taken one there. The top two safeties are Karl Joseph and Vonn Bell -- who are both off the board -- but Thompson is right there with them.
He is scheme versatile and can play either safety position. He takes good angles in coverage, and can come up and lay some hard hits in the run game with one of the best run stop percentages in this class, according to Pro Football Focus. That versatility is key for the Raiders who, as of right now, are in need of a strong safety, but could look to move him to free safety in the near future. They added veteran Reggie Nelson (aged 33 in September) late in free agency to a two-year deal, which means they don’t have a long-term solution at either safety spot.
At 6'2, 208 pounds, he’s bigger than either Joseph or Bell, both of whom stand about 5'10. The Raiders love their big DB’s, especially with Ken Norton Jr. heading up the defense after his days in Seattle with the likes of Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor patrolling the secondary.
Analysis: It’s true, Thompson is right up there with Bell and Joseph, and he rates as my No. 48 player in the draft so this is a good range for him to come off the board. The fit is good, too. Even with the signing of Nelson, Thompson would see a lot playing time in that secondary. Thompson has a penchant for playmaking and would give the Raiders an imposing piece in the secondary.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 40. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
- 41. Joshua Perry, OLB, Ohio State
- 42. Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
- 43. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
- 46. Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
Raiders picks
- 1-14: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
- 2-44: Darian Thompson, S, Boise State
Our second pick of the day from the Rams and Turf Show Times is coming up at 3 p.m. ET and it is a bombshell.
Complete draft results:
First round
1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)
2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)
3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)
4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (Link)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (Link)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (Link)
7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (Link)
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (Link)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (Link)
10. New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (Link)
11. Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida (Link)
12. New Orleans Saints - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (Link)
13. Miami Dolphins - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (Link)
14. Oakland Raiders - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (Link)
15. Los Angeles Rams - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (Link)
16. Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (Link)
17. Atlanta Falcons - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (Link)
18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (Link)
19. Buffalo Bills - Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama (Link)
20. New York Jets - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (Link)
21. Washington - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (Link)
22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (Link)
23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (Link)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (Link)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson, CB, Houston (Link)
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (Link)
27. Green Bay Packers - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (Link)
28. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (Link)
29. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss (Link)
30. Carolina Panthers - Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (Link)
31. Denver Broncos - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (Link)
Second round
32. Cleveland Browns - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (Link)
33. Tennessee Titans - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (Link)
34. Dallas Cowboys - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (Link)
35. San Diego Chargers- Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (Link)
36. Baltimore Ravens - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (Link)
37. San Francisco 49ers - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (Link)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia (Link)
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (Link)
40. New York Giants - Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia (Link)
41. Chicago Bears - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (Link)
42. Miami Dolphins - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (Link)
43. Los Angeles Rams - Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (Link)
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