2018 NFL Mock Draft: Oakland Raiders Select LB Roquan Smith at No. 10

With the tenth pick of the 2018 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, the Oakland Raiders select...

Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

The selection and write-up were made by makeaplay59:

This is a guy who just makes plays. I can picture Jon Gruden saying “this guy, he’s a football player, man!”

His football IQ is off the the charts. He puts in the preparation to be able to diagnose tendencies and always be around the ball. His most appealing trait is that he is an outstanding finisher as a tackler.

He is a 3 down linebacker who never has to come off the field. I think he best fits inside, but can play the Will at an elite level too. He can make tackles for loss in the run game, as well as perform more than adequate in pass coverage. He has elite speed, and at 6’1”, a frame to add a few pounds. He will be a true difference maker, and I see him making multiple Pro Bowls.

I envision Gruden wanting a leader in the middle of his defense, and he has the smarts, vision, and athletic ability to quarterback their defense for years to come. He should be the leading tackler with 100+ for years to come (and they won’t be D’Qwell Jackson tackles 8 yards down the field).

Pokorny: “Many project Smith as the top linebacker in this year’s draft. I don’t have a pulse on what the heck Gruden is going to do, transformed from an older era of football to present day. Derek Carr and the Raiders’ offense took a big step back last year, but maybe adding Smith to a front seven that includes Khalil Mack can take some pressure off the offense.”

The Miami Dolphins are up next, led by Swagnasty.