Raiders Redux and the Draft of “ought-Nine”. Will the Song Remain the Same?

Draft picks?  Despite the inability to actually utilize the draft process to their benefit for several years now, the Raiders still get to participate.  That is encouraging and may praise be given to the league officials for being so merciful to the Raiders by allowing this clearly moribund franchise to limp along.

In reality it has been a lot more than several years since the Raiders actually made a draft pick that has really paid-off.  21 years to be precise and that pick was none other than future hall of famer Tim Brown. 

In the years since the 1988 draft, there have been a few solid picks (Steve Wisniewski, Napoleon Kaufman, & Charles Woodson) but for the most part the Raiders ability to accurately assess potential talent and select players that will best solve their annual needs is very suspect and indeed in some years, none existent.

Since Mr. Davis (sans a coaching staff) is still at the helm, this track record is unlikely to change.  Let’s attempt to look at this upcoming off-season through this “fractured” lens. 

What to do with the seventh overall pick in the draft? 

Well, any offensive or defensive lineman would be too obvious.  So, that would eliminate top prospects of Andre Smith (OT from Alabama), Eugene Monroe (OT from Virginia), & Gerald McCoy (DT from Oklahoma). 

We all know of Mr. Davis’ affinity for speed.  Barring any drastic departure from past form and the absolute lack of any speed in the receiver corps, it would readily make sense that this aspect is an area that the Raiders will focus on when evaluating this year’s talent.  Discouragingly, this is not one of the better years for “blue chip” receiver prospects other than Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech who will most likely be selected before the Raiders pick.

As of yet, due to their seventh slot in the draft order, unless some team drafting after the Raiders is really hot to move up, there really isn’t much trade value for this position.  That could change however once the free agent market cranks up. 

If the Raiders could add  T.J Houshmandzadeh or Roy Williams (cap space be damned) then this could free up the first round pick to be used on a hard nosed football player that could bring some “moxie” to either the offensive or defensive line.

In light of the current vacancies in the Raiders coaching staff, there seems to be no desire from within the organization to turn the annual effort of malaise around (or replace the lens). 

With several somewhat interesting coaching prospects available, it looks as if Mr. Davis and the gang are (as usual) in no hurry to name what would otherwise be the most important aspect of a successful professional football franchise – a head coach.  Perhaps the Raiders can apply for an exemption from the league office so that they can draft what they really need – a general manager.

But encouragingly, there’s more to life than football…Learn more at www.subversivearchitect.com.

Peace.  Sub Arc out…