2014 NFL mock draft: Timmy Jernigan to Oakland Raiders at No. 36

The Raiders don't have a crying need at defensive tackle, but would Timmy Jernigan be too good to pass up in Round 2?

In the first round of the 2014 SB Nation NFL Writers Mock Draft, Levi Damien of Silver and Black Pride took Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles on behalf of the Oakland Raiders with the No. 5 overall pick. With that particular need taken care of, Mr. Damien is going to channel his inner Reggie McKenzie and take, in his estimation, the best remaining player available with his second-round pick.

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"Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie loves to preach 'best player available' in the draft, and this is a case of that. Jernigan is one of the best defensive tackle in this draft and is considered a first round product. The Raiders set themselves up through free agency to not have an extreme need at any one position, while leaving open the possibility of adding young talent at nearly every position. At defensive tackle they signed 32-year-old Antonio Smith and re-signed Pat Sims on a one-year deal. Jernigan is a solid run stopper who can play both defensive tackle positions. He would be able to spell Smith and/or Sims this season, thereby getting the most out of both players' abilities. He could then take over as the starter at some point once deemed ready. Last year was his only full season as a starter, but that doesn't bother the Raiders. They took another one-year wonder in Menelik Watson out of the same school last year at nearly this exact same draft position."

Dan Kadar, our altruistic NFL Draft analyst, has some thoughts and opinions to share on the Raiders' mock draft pick of Jernigan:

The notion of selecting Jernigan over Notre Dame's Louis Nix is lunacy. Nix gets pigeonholed into being a 3-4 nose tackle simply because he played that position at Notre Dame. He's a good enough player to work in a 4-3 without hesitation. The fact that Notre Dame ran a 3-4 is merely happenstance compared to his evaluation. If Jernigan is a "solid" run stopper, Nix is a great one. Forget the veterans Oakland has on its roster. Nix is better than Pat Sims or Antonio Smith right now.

Dave Choate of The Falcoholic will make the No. 37 overall pick for the Atlanta Falcons at 3 p.m. ET.

Top 5 players remaining

2014 SB Nation NFL writers' mock draft results

Raiders picks