Here a recap of the Oakland Raiders draft picks:
1, 15 OT, UCLA, Kolton Miller
The Raiders expect Miller to be a long-time starter. He is very athletic, but he has to work on his technique.
2, 57 DT, Sam Houston State, P.J. Hall
He was a non-combine invite. But he had a great Pro Day. Small-school dominator. He may take time.
3, 65 OT, North Carolina A&T, Brandon Parker
Another small-school star. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl. The Raiders hope he is a book-end with Miller for years.
3, 87, LB, LSU, Arden Key: First-round talent who fell because he has off-field, weight, production and durability issues. But if it all comes together, he can be a pass-rushing difference maker.
4, 110, CB, Wisconsin, Nick Nelson: A solid cover corner who is coming off a knee injury he suffered at his pro day. But he will be fine for camp. He has a chance to contribute in a backup role this season.
5, 140, DT, Michigan, Maurice Hurst: Some thought he would be a first-round pick. But a reported heart issue plummeted him down the draft board. The Raiders and Hurst are confident he is perfectly fine. If they are right, it could be a big steal.
5, 173, P, Florida, Johnny Townsend: He was considered the third best punter in this draft. The Raiders took him just after Green Bay took Alabama’s JK Scott. Townsend gets first crack to replace Marquette King.
6, 216, LB, Washington, Azeem Victor: Talented, but has character issues. Had a reported DUI last year. The Huskies suspended him twice last season, for the DUI and a for a reported failed drug test. No, I would doubt this keep the Raiders from wanting to re-sign NaVorro Bowman.
7, 228, WR, Oklahoma State, Marcell Ateman: Big kid at 6-4, 210. Good college player. Had a bad combine, running a 4.62 40. He is a good route runner and he can catch the ball, He could be a project to develop.
I don’t find it overly inspiring.
Our OTs should be immediate starters. I have no idea if either one is ready for that, much less both of them.
It seems our best picks could be Key and Hurst. Both could be the most productive too. Let that sink in. A 3rd and a 5th round pick could be our best picks. That should tell you who we have passed on.
I hope Gruden is right about all these players.
Day 3 was our best day… the usual with Reggie. I think Marcell Ateman might be a hidden gem. Maurice Hurst was a great pickup. We definitely over-drafted PJ Hall and Brandon Parker. And gave up picks for Parker. PJ is gonna be a boom or bust player. Arden Key is a boom player if he can stay on the field, for both character and durability.
Tom Cable better deliver.
Love the Ryan Switzer pickup. Good riddance Jihad! And maybe soon to be Seth Roberts…
Other than Hurst and Key, not a very inspiring draft. Although, the Pats usually don’t have inspiring drafts, so maybe . . . I like the pick up of Martavius Bryant. I guess we will find out in 2-3 years if this draft is any good. Just hard to get excited when there were so many talented difference makers available that the Raiders chose not to draft. At least there will be a ton of competition in camps for various positions.
Only time will tell if drafts will pan out
“Grading” drafts now are absurd
Bill –
Raiders didn’t draft Trey Quinn, Redskins did
Raiders didn’t draft Trey Quinn, Redskins did
Yo Bro, TREY. QUINN Was Drafted , By Washington redskins. . *Theres a couple other M.O.Facts , in the of other posts . . Quinn is Mr. Irrelevant .. .
Thanks, Randall. That was an editing error on my part and had nothing to do with colleague Bill Williamson. The error has been corrected. Keep up the great work of keeping us on our toes. — Cork
If they would have just picked the BPA in rounds 1, 2, and 3 (even ignoring OT), then added the rest of the guys they got, it would have been a homerun draft. Nelson could really be a solid CB. Hurst and Key could end up being incredible steals (more likely Hurst). But, we could have had lockdown corners or a Safety in the upper rounds. I would rather they laid off OT and took a flyer on some UDFA or another teams roster cut……maybe even a trade for a future 2nd or 3rd rounder?? How about that, instead of blowing a high pick on some completely unproven college kid who no one had ranked in their top 100. I think Gruden completey jacked up the top end of the draft, just like McKenzie has the past few yrs.
Yeah a BPA strategy would have soundly improved the roster, but such blown opportunities with the player over- assessments and being out-schooled on the trades were the theme for the first three rounds. By Friday night, I thought there may have been a coaching and GM coup by Tom Cable or maybe Mike Tice hacked and goosed up the scouting reports. After this weekend, it’s great to see that Reggie cleared all of that cap space for Gruden to target Azeem Victor, Jason Cabinda, Townsend, and resigning NaVorro Bowman. Is it too late to trade Gruden for a pair of 2019 6th round draft picks?