NFL Draft 2019: Raiders GM Mike Mayock shares Day 2 strategy, Day 3 plans

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ALAMEDA -- The Raiders were able to trade down twice in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft to pick up extra value down the line. They weren’t able to gain extra picks for use during Friday’s second day, with great depth at several positions of need.

They were, however, able to pick up Clemson cornerback Trayvon Mullen with the No. 40 overall pick and supplement the ammunition for Saturday, which includes two early fourth-round selections.

"We came into today with two guys we would’ve considered at No. 24 or 27,” Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said. “We started the day with that list and would’ve been ecstatic with either one of them. When we got to 38, they were both there, so we trade to 40 and that’s when we took Trayvon.”

The Raiders moved twice while inundated with trade offers, but didn’t want to dip too far down the second round.

“We (had) five, six, seven different offers out there,” Mayock said. “The goal coming into today was to not lose Trayvon, and pick up some extra picks. That’s what happened, so on the front side of it we’re ecstatic.”

Mayock considered getting back into the action late in the second day.

“I had my eyes open at the end of three, thinking I wanted to package two fourth-round picks or a four and five to get back into the third round,” Mayock said. “There were a couple of guys I was targeting. They didn’t get to the point where I thought it made sense to go back up, so we didn’t pull the trigger. We had a couple Kit Kats and hung out, too. There was a time where (it was quiet).”

There could be more activity early Saturday. One team has already called the Raiders about a fourth-rounder.

“I love that we have some picks at the top of each round, and we know there’s going to be activity,” Mayock said. “(Head coach Jon Gruden) and I were already on the whiteboard prioritizing the guys left and who we like. We see some guys we’re really happy are still there, and that’s a good thing.”

There was a run on tight ends, leaving the Raiders without frontline options. Receivers went fast and furious as well after a quiet Thursday for the position. Cornerbacks also went quick, though the Raiders got one in Mullen.

[RELATED: Why Raiders mined talent from college national title game]

Let’s take a look at some options for the two early fourth-round selections that will kick off a long Saturday with four rounds and plenty of compensatory picks slowing things down.

There’s talent left to be mined, and the Raiders have needs left to fill:

-- DE Anthony Butler, Iowa: He was a fourth-round pick on my Raiders seven-round mock draft, and could be a solid power rusher off the strong side and fit the defensive scheme here.

-- DE Joe Jackson, Miami: A bigger defensive end who is strong and aggressive and fits a 4-3 base system could be an option for the Raiders, who still need pass rushers. He was a steady college producer, and could be solid in the pros if developed properly.

-- DE Austin Bryant, Clemson: Let’s just keep the Clemson theme going and pair him with first-rounder Clelin Ferrell in the pros as well. What the heck? He’s obviously a fit, and has traits required to be a solid pro

-- OG Dru Samia, Oklahoma: The Raiders could use another guard, and the Sacramento native is a nasty one who worked with an excellent Sooners front as a four-year starter. He has good movement and plays well in space, but analysts say he needs to improve his power game.

-- LB Mack Wilson, Alabama: The Raiders can continue their Alabama-Clemson theme with an NFL-sized off-the-ball linebacker who could develop into an every-down player with proper development and discipline.

-- QB Ryan Finley, North Carolina State: The Raiders are set at quarterback, with four already on the roster, but Gruden loved Finley at the Senior Bowl and he could be the developmental prospect not in the current quarterback group.

-- WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa State: This kid has a track record of making plays down the field. Jon Gruden likes speed and downfield ability. He could be an interesting pickup expanding a loaded receiver corps.

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