BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The National Football League will provide the first taste of live sports coverage in over a month next week with its annual draft.
Teams, players and league executives will participate virtually for the first time, but it doesn't take away from some of the top-tier talent available in this year's draft class. Dane Brugler of The Athletic released his seven-round mock draft with picks for every team.
He predicts that the Las Vegas Raiders will help out Bakersfield-native Derek Carr and draft a wide receiver CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma.
“They might be in a position to draft the best wide receiver in the draft at that point," Brugler said. "There might not be a wide receiver off the board in the first 11 picks so that may be an interesting opportunity for them, especially if they have their eye on a specific receiver.”
Despite the Raiders inking Marcus Mariota to a deal this off-season to back up Carr, Brugler thinks they will spend a third-round pick on former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts to compete for the job.
For the Los Angeles Chargers, Brugler predicts them selecting Tua Tagovailoa out of Alabama. The star QB has been quite injury-prone during his prolific three-year career with the Crimson Tide.
“If Justin Herbert ends up going 5 to the Dolphins and that means Tua is on the board at number 6," he said. "What's the medical situation? What’s their appetite for risk? Are they onboard to take a really talented player who has his history of being off of the field because of injuries?”
The draft will be broadcasted on 23ABC beginning next Thursday at 4 p.m. with round one. Rounds two and three will be broadcast Friday night from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the final rounds on Saturday air from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
