Report: Raiders “Really Want” USC DL Leonard Williams

 

Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole has been told by sources that the player that the Raiders “really want” in the upcoming draft is USC DL Leonard Williams.

Cole describes Oakland’s fourth pick as the “pivot spot“, noting that if Oakland is serious about Williams, they will likely have to move up to pick number two or three to select him.

Conversely, if Oakland can’t move up, Cole believes they will try and trade down and target a wide receiver.  Wide receiver is very deep this year, and the team can conceivably move back a few spots and still get a top tier pass catcher-such as Alabama’s Amari Cooper, West Virginia’s Kevin White, or Louisville’s DeVante Parker.

It seems as though Oakland’s decision will go a long way towards shaping the top half of round one. Tennessee and Jacksonville before them can go a number of different ways, but Williams is widely considered to be a top-two talent in this draft.

Oakland has plenty of needs, and moving down makes some sense if they are indeed targeting a wide receiver.  The rising draft stock of WR Breshad Perriman could put four receivers in the top fifteen picks.