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NFL Draft 2013: Defensive possibilities for the Raiders

Oakland has struggled to stop teams this year, and it may want to choose defense with likely high first-round pick.

By Craig Powers
Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Oakland Raiders would be drafting third in the 2013 NFL Draft if the the current NFL standings held up, and it would serve them well to look for help on the defensive side of the ball. Luckily for the Raiders, a look at Mocking the Draft's 2013 NFL Draft Big Board 100 shows there are plenty of options at the top.

An obvious choice would be Utah's Star Lotulelei, but the Raiders are unlikely to get the top spot in the draft. For an option on the interior line, Oakland would then have to look down to No. 9 for Jesse Williams out of Alabama.

The Raiders are likely to fall around the top five in the draft order, so they may not want to reach for Williams. There are plenty of defensive options in the top five area. Nos. 4-8 are all defensive players, including linebacker Manti Te'o, defensive end Damontre Moore, cornerback Dee Milliner, outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and DE Bjoern Werner.