Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast: State of the Raiders

HENDERSON, Nev.--Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler and Coach Josh McDaniels have a plan. While few may be privy to the plan, it is quickly unfolding.

The Raiders will certainly be making more moves before the NFL Draft and many more after it.

In this week's episode, we break down the state of the Raiders and dissect my latest NFL MOCK Draft based on what I hear from around the NFL, with Matt Hlakdik from TheSpun.com

In case you missed it, here is the NFL MOCIK Draft:

1st Round 14 Overall: Calijah Kancey DT Pitt

The Raiders make a trade to move down with the New England Patriots.

Jalen Carter was the consensus number-one defensive tackle entering the offseason, but as his stock is falling, the man many considered the second-best is soaring.

The Raiders would immediately add an impact defensive tackle with speed, toughness, and a constant motor. He would be an immediate starter.

2nd Round 38th Overall: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio St.

This is a surprise for the Raiders. They love Jones and can place him at right tackle, where he and Kolton Miller give the Silver and Black the bookend tackles they crave. Jones is projected by nearly everyone I have spoken to as a first-round talent. The issue is that the way this draft unfolds, a run at other positions precipitates an unwarranted drop.

2nd Round 46th Overall: Tanner McKee, Quarterback, Stanford

Josh McDaniels would get a pure pocket presence as he loved in Mac Jones. McKee could sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo and take tutelage from a veteran who isn't against grooming his successor.

McDaniels isn't against a dual-threat quarterback but against one with happy feet. Hooker is a true dual-threat with a high accuracy rating and skills that wow. He has to develop, but after spending time with the youngster, that is simply because the system will be different, and he has the acumen to adjust.

3rd Round 70th Overall: Cody Mauch OL North Dakota State

NFL MOCK Drafts have Mauch as a first-round pick, and rightfully so. One executive for an NFL playoff team told me: "One thing that a lot of teams do is overthink after the combine., and they talk themselves out of guys for the dumbest reasons. In Mauch's case, many have questioned not his talent or character, but the level of competition. We love him, but we are set on the OL."

He added: "This kid is a first-round type guy, but the Raiders could steal him here and if that happens, you will look back in five years and call him the steal of the draft. Is this probably? Not really, but certain possible and not way out there."

Mauch is the type of player who the Raiders covet. One GM told me: "There is no wondering why the Raiders love him. He is a Maxx Crosby on the offensive line. He has the tools to play RT but could slide inside and be a decade-long Raiders. Everything about that kid is Raiders."

Mauch would be a starter in game one for the Raiders in 2023 and has a high ceiling of being an elite long-term offensive lineman.

3rd Round 100th Overall: Kyu Blu Kelly, Cornerback, Stanford

The youngster is from Las Vegas, where he played at Bishop Gorman High. The Raiders bring him home at a major point of need, cornerback.

Revisit our 2023 NFL MOCK Draft 1.0 when you click right here.

Revisit our 2023 NFL MOCK Draft 2.0 when you click right here.

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period began at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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