We've seen a lot of mock drafts this offseason but can't recall one that has the Las Vegas Raiders landing one of the top-three wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft with their No. 13 overall pick.
But in the latest mock draft from Chad Reuter of NFL.com, he has LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers falling to No. 13, where the Raiders end up snagging him. Here's what Reuter had to say about it.
Nabers' quickness in his routes, strong hands and speed make him a top-10 talent and he reminds me a lot of former LSU receiver Odell Beckham Jr. -- who was selected 12th overall by the Giants 10 years ago. I have the Raiders trading up for Michael Penix Jr. in Round 2 to compete with Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew for the starting QB job, but Vegas could sneak into the back end of the first to snag a QB whose rookie contract would include the team-friendly fifth-year option.
Mocking Nabers in the teens is certainly a bold move considering everyone else on planet Earth has him going inside the top 10. The Raiders don't necessarily need a wideout bad enough to take one in the first round but would be hard-pressed to pass up on an elite talent like Nabers.
Making Reuter's mock even more intriguing is the fact that the Raiders then pair Nabers with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. via a trade up to No. 33 with the Carolina Panthers.
The obvious issue with this mock is that the Raiders don't land a right tackle who can help them in Year 1, but I think they'd happily address the issue in free agency with a haul like the one they come away with in Reuter's mock.
