Top NFL Draft Prospects Raiders Must Watch During CFB Bowl Season
The Las Vegas Raiders’ recent push up the AFC playoff standings has taken away the possibility of landing a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
The Raiders are currently projected to have the No. 12 overall pick. They could go in many directions with that selection.
Las Vegas does not need a quarterback or a No. 1 wide receiver, but it could use help at every other spot on the field.
The Raiders’ long list of needs should cast a wide net for prospects to target over the next few months.
Josh McDaniels and his staff could check out a few of those prospects in college football bowl games.
Some top-tier players will sit out their bowl games. That may make it easier for the Raiders to pick which games to target to get one final in-action look at potential first-round picks.
Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
Myles Murphy is the standout defensive player to watch in the Orange Bowl.
The Clemson Tigers edge-rusher is one of two potential top-10 picks on the roster along with Bryan Bresee, who missed some time this season with injuries.
Murphy is tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks. He has 40 total tackles and a forced fumble as well.
Murphy is the No. 3 overall prospect in the minds of Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department.
Murphy may be gone before the Raiders pick in April, but he is still worth watching because there is a chance he could fall.
The top part of the draft could feature a run on quarterbacks and offensive linemen.
Las Vegas can still own a top-10 pick if it loses more games, and that might lead to it landing Murphy.
As is the case with most top prospects, Murphy could announce a decision to skip the bowl game between now and the time it is played, but as of writing, he is slated to play against the Tennessee Volunteers on December 30.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The Raiders could be in the running back market in the first round if they do not come to a deal with Josh Jacobs.
Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson is the No. 4 overall prospect in the eyes of Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department.
Robinson likely will not be a top-five pick because of the needs at other positions from teams in those positions.
Las Vegas could land Robinson at the back end of the top 10, or just outside of it.
Robinson ran for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
As of now, Robinson is slated to play in the Alamo Bowl on December 29. He may not play, but if he does, the Raiders should have close eyes on San Antonio.
BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU
The Raiders would love to have another dominant pass-rusher on their roster.
That is what they could get from LSU’s BJ Ojulari.
The edge-rusher has 56 total tackles and five sacks. He is ranked 12th by Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department. That is right where the Raiders are currently slated to pick.
Las Vegas needs all the edge help it can get to contain Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the AFC West.
The amount of elite edge-rushers in the draft class could shift the Raiders in that direction to solidify the first layer of defense.
Ojulari and the LSU Tigers play in the Citrus Bowl on January 2. That could be one more chance for him to flash his pass-rushing skills before heading to the NFL.