2018 NFL mock draft: Packers address defense in first round
Nothing has changed with this pick since my first mock draft. The Raiders are in need of playmakers all over their defense, outside of Khalil Mack. They have added some pieces on their defense to shore up the cornerback position and safety position, now I think they look to add an athletic difference maker at linebacker.
As a converted wide receiver, Smith is very fast for the linebacker position. He is a player that the Raiders can move all around at linebacker. He has an awesome football IQ, he is an extremely physical player, block slipper, and will certainly make a huge difference in the middle of this Raiders defense.
This is another spot where Ward could certainly fall, and I really flirted with the idea of putting Marcus Davenport here, as the Dolphins pass rush needs a lot of work.
Their interior defensive line is one of the weakest spots on the team with the departure of Ndamukong Suh. With a 4-3 defense, they cannot afford to have two weaker interior defensive linemen. Vita Vea is very quick for his size (6-foot-5, 340 pounds), he is a great block slipper, has elite upper body strength (41 reps at 225 at combine), and possesses elite hands when dealing with blockers. He is a player that will most definitely help the Dolphins run defense, but he is versatile enough to also help in pass rush.