Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Since the Oakland Raiders were officially slotted with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the talk has been between them drafting a wide receiver or Leonard Williams with the pick. However, recent developments prove that there’s a third option at No. 4: Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders sent a horde of coaches to a private workout with Beasley on Friday. Included in the group were defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr., linebackers coach Sal Sunseri and defensive line coach Jethro Franklin, who are all eager to determine where Beasley would fit in Oakland’s 4-3 defense.
Depending on how the first few picks play out on April 30, Beasley could be a serious consideration for the Raiders at No. 4.
Chances are the Raiders are hoping USC defensive tackle Williams, the consensus top defensive talent, falls to them. However, the Tennessee Titans (No. 2) and Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 3) are both believed to be seriously considering Williams. The Raiders could also look to grab one of the top two wide receivers, Amari Cooper and Kevin White, with their pick if Williams is gone.
If the Raiders don’t want to spend their first rounder on a pass catcher, though, they could look to nab Beasley.
The Clemson defensive end has emerged as arguably the top edge rusher in the 2015 draft class over the last few months. Not only does he have excellent athleticism and speed to get around the corner, but he also possesses a wide array of pass-rush moves to keep his blocker on their heels.
The only real concern with Beasley is his lack of size. Measuring in at 6’3’’, 245 pounds, the Clemson product is very lean for a defensive end, and may struggle against bigger, powerful NFL offensive tackles. However, he may have the speed and burst to compensate for his lack of overall power.
Teaming Beasley with 2014 first-round pick Khalil Mack would certainly be a tantalizing option for the Raiders, who are still looking to beef up their subpar pass rush heading into 2015.
If the Clemson defensive end is available at No. 4 and Williams is already off the board, expect Oakland to think long and hard about putting Beasley in silver and black.
Calvin Cress is an Oakland Raiders writer for RantSports. Make sure to follow him on Twitter for more Raiders news and commentary.
