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The Oakland Raiders' staff has many decisions to make in the next few days with the NFL draft only days away. Here are five different perspectives on how the Raiders' draft could play out in the first two rounds.

The Raiders made a point by filling in their needs on offensive line this offseason by making a trade and signing free agents. 

The Raiders' main focus for the draft will primarily be on fixing needs on the defensive line that was 31st against the rush last season, while providing JaMarcus Russell with a primary target at the wide receiver position.  

The popular take has them walking away with the best available wide receiver with the pick, though in the second round of some mock drafts, the Raiders are selecting an offensive lineman over a more pressing need—the defensive lineman.  

Popular Take

In the first round, the popular take is Jeremy Maclin, the wide receiver from Missouri. This is a popular first round pick because he will provide Russell with the missing additional target. Currently, there are many mock drafts that have the Raiders selecting Maclin. However, Maclin’s lack of height and disappointing 40 time did nothing to impress Al Davis. 

Tom Cable is the coach, and even though they signed many free agents this offseason on the offensive line, it still remains a thought of many that the Raiders are in fact thin on the line.

In the second round, many mock drafts have the Raiders going with an additional offensive lineman, possibly going with an offensive tackle like William Beatty from Connecticut or Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma to help the line protect the rush.  

Smart Take

The smartest move would be to take B.J. Raji, the defensive tackle from Boston College. He is a great nose tackle that can make all the difference for the Raiders' defensive pass attack by forcing havoc on the blockers and being able to get to the ball carrier quickly.

However, make a note of this: the last defensive tackle Al Davis took in the first round—Darrel Russell, in 1997. He ran a 4.8 40-yard dash while weighing 320 pounds. Raji is not even close to that speed, which basically means he might not be athletic enough for Al. 

In the second round, the smart choice would be to select Brian Robiskie from Ohio State. Robiskie has both the speed and hands to succeed in the NFL. Robiskie is a reliable route runner, and he is a surprisingly fluid athlete for a wide receiver of his size.

Davis' Take

This is where Al Davis makes his selection. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree is the preferred selection because he has superstar written all over him. He will sell jerseys and become a fan favorite.

The true, clear answer to the Raiders' receiving problems is that they already have a couple of speedsters on the team, and now they could pick up their good route runner with great hands. However, if he's not available, don't be surprised if Al goes for a speedster like Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. 

In this take, Davis will select Michael Johnson, defensive end from Georgia Tech, in the second round. Johnson is the type of fluid athlete Al Davis loves. I have a hard time seeing Al Davis passing on him if he is available in the second round. Johnson is 6'6" and runs a 4.6 40 time, which is fast for a defensive end. 

Lucky Take

In the first round, the cards may fall in the Raiders' hands. Specifically, if both linemen, quarterbacks, and Crabtree are selected prior to the seventh pick, Aaron Curry may be available.  

No, a linebacker may not be the answer to a pressing need, but acquiring a true quality player in this year's draft to play on defense will be a nice fit. On many draft boards, he is the No. 1 prospect in this year's draft, and if he is still on the board at seven, I see the Raiders jumping on that pick without hesitation. 

In the second round, I see them taking the best available wide receiver, and it won’t be Hakeem Nicks—too slow for Davis. In the second round, they may draft Kenny Britt, a wide receiver from Rutgers. Britt can be the missing receiver that can go down the field. With Johnnie Lee Higgins and Chaz Schilens, this will create a nice young receiver nucleus for Russell.    

FINAL TAKE 

If Crabtree is off the board, the better decision for the Raiders may actually be Percy Harvin, the wide receiver from Florida. He was the perfect receiver for Tim Tebow. Harvin is no slow cookie and a good route runner. He has the ability to catch over 100 passes this season and make Russell look more effective in the meantime.

Something Al never seems to miss is speed and quickness, especially in a wide receiver, and Harvin has it. A CBS insider mentions, “Harvin hits top speed in an instant.”

He is explosive coming off the snap, and that acceleration allows him to be consistent. Once he gets in the open, he can take the ball to daylight. The only thing that may make the Raiders hesitant in selecting him and move in a different direction is his size. 

In the second round in this take, I see the Raiders selecting defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert from San Jose State.

He looks like the ideal fit for the Raiders' defensive scheme—a versatile player with experience at defensive tackle and at the defensive end position. Even though he is 6'6", he has the ability to play low and be very dominant.

The 2009 NFL Draft is only days away. The Raiders have a lot of different ways they can go to improve their team this coming season with all five of their draft picks.

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