There has been plenty of speculation in recent weeks about who the Raiders might select with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 30.
USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams, believed to be the surest prospect in the draft, would be the No. 1 target if he gets past the first three teams. If not, wide receivers Amari Cooper of Alabama or Kevin White of West Virginia are the consensus picks.
But it’s also possible that Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie -- with plenty of needs on his roster -- could move down on draft day, dealing his No. 4 choice for additional picks in the first or second rounds.
Peter King of Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback is one who believes that might be McKenzie’s strategy.
Wrote King, in his recent mock draft: “GM Reggie McKenzie waits for the phone to ring. He’ll trade during his pick, especially with Williams on the board. Interesting trade-up candidate: Cleveland, with the 12th, 19th and 43rd picks. …”
Plus, with a deep crop of wide receivers available in this draft, even if McKenzie moves down several spots in the first round, he should be able to select an impact pass catcher -- plus get additional selections.
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McKenzie certainly has a history of pursuing this course. Back in 2013, McKenzie traded the Raiders’ No. 3 overall choice to Miami for the 12th pick in the first round and an additional second rounder. With that 12th pick he took cornerback D.J. Hayden.
Hayden, though slowed by injuries, played well at the end of the 2014 season and is expected to be a starting candidate in 2015.
According to the trade value chart many NFL teams use when trading draft choices, the fourth overall selection is worth 1,800 points. A comparable value would be the 12th pick in the first round (1,200 points) and the 31st overall pick (600 points) -- or a high second rounder plus an additional choice or player.
