AFC Notes: Raiders, Colts, Patriots

Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area looks at four running backs the Raiders could target in the upcoming draft. Though the Raiders have Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin and DeAndre Washington on their roster, Bair believes there’s still a strong chance the team will target a running back at some point.

The Raiders are unlikely to take a running back until at least the second round, where they hold the No. 41 overall pick, and Bair looks at four running backs the team could have its eyes on.

Leading off the list are Georgia’s Sony Michel and San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny, who are both projected to go in the second round (per NFL.com). Penny could also help the team in its return game, with the trade of Cordarrelle Patterson to the Patriots.

Closing out the list are Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson and Northwestern’s Justin Jackson. Johnson is projected to go in either the second or third round and Jackson is expected to go in the sixth or seventh round, with both projections coming from NFL.com.

The Raiders ranked 25th in the league with 1,554 team rushing yards last season. They were in a tie at No. 11 with 13 rushing touchdowns. Lynch and Martin are slated to become free agents next offseason.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Colts will have four selections inside the first 49 picks in the upcoming draft, which is good because they could use help at nearly every position outside of quarterback and their specialists. Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star breaks down where the team is in most need, though, with wide receiver, linebacker and offensive line ranking as the top three. Rounding out the top five were defensive line and defensive back. The Colts moved back to the No. 6 overall pick in the first round in a trade with the Jets.
  • ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported in May of last year that the Patriots were looking to provide depth in their interior line in the form of Indiana guard Dan Feeney before he was selected by the Chargers. The Patriots have a solid core in their interior line, with guard Joe Thuney, guard Shaq Mason and center David Andrews, but Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston wonders if they’ll again look for depth on the inside. He points to Iowa’s James Daniels, Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn, Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow and Ohio State’s Billy Price as a few options that could be available if the team elects to go that route.
  • Earlier Sunday, we learned that the Raiders plan to pick up the fifth-year option on two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper.
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