A closer look at the positions the Oakland Raiders could target at the NFL combine in Indianapolis:

Positions of need: Raiders two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Tom Flores once laughed at the notion of a team that was picking early in a draft having the luxury to draft for a specific need. If you’re drafting in the top 10, he said, you’ve got a lot of needs. Indeed. The Raiders, after flaming out and finishing 6-10 in 2017, will select either ninth or 10th overall in April’s draft, pending a coin flip with the San Francisco 49ers. And here we are: the Raiders, under new/returning coach Jon Gruden, picking in the top 10 for the first time since 2015. Sure, there are specific positions of need in Oakland -- they need a thumper at inside linebacker to team with veteran NaVorro Bowman, should they re-sign Bowman. In likely rebuilding the secondary, the Raiders would be hard-pressed to pass on a top cornerback prospect, even if they drafted one last year in Gareon Conley at No. 24. They could definitely use a legit pass-rusher to bookend with Khalil Mack, who is still getting double- and triple-teamed with aplomb. And what if running back Marshawn Lynch and/or receiver Michael Crabtree are told to hit the bricks? Needs? Yeah, the Raiders have a few.

Three players the Raiders should focus on at combine:

Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia: College football’s top linebacker would surely address a need, especially if the Raiders do move on from Bowman. But imagine how some tutoring from the four-time first-team All-Pro would help Smith down the line. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Smith, who led Georgia in sacks (6.5), tackles (137), tackles for loss (14) and QB hurries (17) while adding a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, can already thump with the best of them, will only get bigger and is that rare combo linebacker who can run sideline to sideline with ease and speed. Incoming defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is a 4-3 guy but would not be opposed to shifting to a 3-4 if the personnel dictated as much. Think Bowman and Patrick Willis 2.0.

Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State: With Gareon Conley appearing in just two games last season, it's almost as if the Raiders have two first-round picks in 2018. And so long as Conley is healed from the right-shin injury, teaming him again with an old college teammate in Ward would certainly give the Raiders a Buckeyes feel. Oakland, which has also talked to veteran cornerback Vontae Davis, would be wise to keep tabs on Ward, who, at 5-10, 191 pounds, is more a “sticky” defensive back -- though he was not afraid to stick his nose in the pile, as evidenced by his 37 tackles (two for loss) last fall. He also had two interceptions and 15 pass breakups, all stats that should have Oakland intrigued.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama: Alabama overkill much, what with Ridley being Amari Cooper's successor and record-breaker with the Crimson Tide? Perhaps, but with so many questions revolving around Michael Crabtree and Seth Roberts and even Johnny Holton, the Raiders would be foolish to not keep tabs on the quick and smooth route-running Ridley -- who is 6-1, 190 pounds and caught 224 passes for 2,781 yards and 19 touchdowns in three years at Alabama -- even if he did have 20 drops over his career. Hey, then that means he’d fit right in with the Raiders’ oft-butter-fingers wide receiver corps. I kid. Kind of.