Getty Gallery: 2/6
No. 1 Arizona Cardinals: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Nick Bosa is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick despite missing the majority of the season with an injury. Bosa has been scrutinized for leaving the Buckeyes football team during the season after his injury to prepare for the NFL draft, but it does not appear to be hurting his draft stock.
While Bosa is going to have to answer questions about his decision to leave the team in the middle of the season, it is unlikely it will be a factor in impacting where he is drafted. It also helps that his brother has become one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.
As unpopular as the decision may be, we have seen players suffer serious injuries during bowl games. It is hard to fault Bosa for his decision given what is at stake. A strong argument can be made for Bosa to have at least finished the season with the team, even if he was not going to be able to play again. We have heard little about Bosa's injury since he sustained it earlier this fall, but it does not appear to be something that will linger.
Bosa's father, John Bosa, spoke with Sports Illustrated about what went into his son's decision to leave.
“The realistic timeframe is 12 weeks," John Bosa told Sports Illustrated. “Twelve weeks brings us into December. There’s timeframes for injuries, and then timeframes for an elite pass rusher. It’s not about rehabbing so you can be back on the used car lot or be a mechanic. When is he able to be safe and play at the same level? When you look at the preparation he goes through in preseason, that’s not a realistic timeframe for it to be safe. It’s just not.”
The Cardinals locked up their quarterback for the future in the last draft and have so many holes they need to add the best player available.
No. 2 Oakland Raiders: LB Devin White, LSU
The Raiders have to nail this draft given how much they gave up to acquire their plethora of picks. There is no easy replacement for Khalil Mack, but Devin White may be the best defensive athlete in the draft. White finished his junior season with 115 tackles and three sacks.
A recent article by Nola.com's Brody Miller suggested that White may opt to stay at LSU for another season. Given White is likely a top 10 pick if he declares, it will be interesting to see if the linebacker is really considering staying in Baton Rouge for another season.
“I know every guy who had the opportunity to go pro thinks about it, because I think about it,” White told Nola.com. "But I be one who just wants to leave this place better than I found it, establish my legacy and stuff, what kind of person I want to be remembered as. I want everything to be done the right way, and I don’t know if I reached that limit yet. That’s why there’s so much concern for me.”
There is plenty of top defensive lineman to choose from at this spot, but White or Josh Allen could be too tempting for the Raiders to pass up given the void Mack left behind.