Raider Nation remains divided on what should be done come draft day. With still some needs to be met, only one pick in the first three rounds and small space left in the salary cap, Oakland must handle this draft with utmost priority. Essential strides were made in free agency in order to fix such problems but still some holes remain to be clogged.
In this article, these holes, the solutions made through free agency and the possible further reconstruction through the draft are all explained.
The Raiders finished their 07 campaign with one of the worst run defenses allowing a league-worst of 5.3 yards per carry and a third worst at allowing 148.9 yards per game. Tom Cable brought much success to the O-line last year, which gave up less than half the sacks it did in 2006 and helped Fargas reach a thousand yard peak last season. Even with that said, the O-line still requires a makeover and provide a better pass protection. Al "The Outlaw" Davis jumped into free agency aiming to solve such problems and made a bigger splash than Bill Parcell's whose Dolphins finished 1-15 last year.
In Free agency, the Raiders aquired DE Kalimba Edwards, DT William Joseph and resigned DT/DE Tommy Kelly, who will likely take the place of the great QB killa, Warren Sapp. Edward's career has been inconsistent with one day he looks to lead the league in sacks and the other, he is on the bench injured. Joseph, however, has never lived up to the hype of being the first rounder drafted by the Giants but if there is one thing you can believe about Al Davis, its that he is turned around many believed-to-be busts or under achievers into football monsters and I just hope that is the same with Joseph. Both Joseph and Edwards will probably fight for a starting job but even with their presence, by the looks of it the Raiders will still require a run halting menace at the D-line. An intimidating force is also desired opposite of Burgess and Edwards & Jay Richardson will likely fight for the position.
Now on to the O-line. As stated earlier, the O-line finally came to a stable standing after years of disarray. Under Tom Cable's zone blocking scheme, Robert Gallery found a consistent position at left guard after seasons of changing O-line ideologies and O-line coaches. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the pro bowl in a year or two. From free agency, the Raiders inked C John Wade, T Kwame Harris, T Cornell Green. Harris, a former first round pick by the 49ers, never attained the expectations set upon him. This is thought to be case as it is presumed that Harris never meshed well into San Fran's O-line mechanisms. It is believed that Cable's mentoring will help Harris live up to the first round potential he showed in college. C Wade started 88 games and only missed 8 for the past 6 years. With the departure of the aging but nonetheless true Raider Barry Simms, the Raiders need to mend the guard spot. Even with all these moves, the Raiders must further enhance their O-line in order for it to be in a elite condition giving Russell a pocket to move around and time for him to throw the ball efficiently.
The draft is right around the corner and it will help determine the standing of Oakland next season even better. The Raiders could draft DE Vernon Gholston or if possible, DE Chris Long both of whom will undoubtedly bring a great pass rush to the D-line. DT Sedrick Ellis and DT Glenn Dorsey, if either one chosen, will attack the run ferociously. OT Jake Long's availability at no. 4 grows as both the Rams and Falcons express concern over a DT. The Raiders could draft him if he is available, but the question remains whether the D-line or O-line will be built first through the draft.
Trade down possibilities remain the only option through which many needs can be eliminated at once. The only down side to this is that you wont find the same talent that is seen in the first 10 picks down lower in the draft.
The most popular trade down seems to be the one with Dallas. Jerry Jones seems to be eyeing Darren Mcfadden and has been increasingly concerned with his team's CB position. Oakland could give its fourth overall with Fabian Wahington & maybe Stanford Routt for the Cowboy's 22nd and 28th overall along with their 2nd round pick. With the 22nd and 28th overall picks, Oakland could pick up DE Philip Merling, OT Gosder Cherilus, OG Branden Albert or DE Quentin Groves. With the 2nd round pick, Oakland could also get OLB Cliff Avril.
New England also showed some interest in Gholston, who is believed to be needed in the Patriot's veteran linbacking corps. After free ageny, New England is also desperately in need of some CBs with the leavings of Randall Gay and Asante Samuel. The Raiders could offer their fourth overall and Washington for the Patriot's 8th overall, 2nd round and 3rd round picks. If the Raiders are lucky they could land DT Sedrick Ellis at 8th overall and still have 2nd & 3rd round picks.
As draft day approaches, these needs must be met for the next season to be as productive as possible.
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3 months ago
I see where you're going Umer you've made some valid points. However, the Raider run D was bad but not that bad the actual number was 145.9 yards per game. The Dolphins were last in the league at 153.5 yards per game allowed. In regards to the draft day trades, both of them require the trade partners giving up a lot. It would be nice, but I doubt either will happen as written. Good stuff, continue to write.
3 months ago
Thanks for the comments, Jeff! Sorry for the mess up on run defense stats.
3 months ago
I really think that picking McFadden is not a good idea, picking him would be out of want and not out of need. My fantasy pick would be the son of Howie Long or Gholston but I do agree that they need to trade to get more picks.
3 months ago
DT Sedrick Ellis will be available at #4. I say we pick him and never worry about getting run all over anymore. Our D-line is suspect right now and Ellis would give us the stability that we need.
from 3 months ago
The reason we were getting run all over, is because of fatigue not skill. Come on now. We were on the field more than anyother teams defense, and we were still within a scoring drive of winning 6 more games last year, it had nothing to do with our defense.
3 months ago
DT Sedrick Ellis will be available at #4. I say we pick him and never worry about getting run all over anymore. Our D-line is suspect right now and Ellis would give us the stability that we need.
3 months ago
Thanks for the comments, Daniel. Yes trading down will definately solve many of their problems.
3 months ago
I know we need help on the O-line and the D-line. However, Al Davis will never pass up Darren McFadden. He will be the pick at #4. Even if we wanted to trade down with Dallas, Dallas would have to give us both their #1 picks and their #2 pick just for our #4. Fabian Washington would not be required in the trade as you suggest. My feeling is that Al will draft McFadden. We will trade Fabian and Rhodes or Fargas. We can get a late #2 for Fabian and a #3 or #4 for Rhodes or Fargas. With those picks we can draft another DT AND DE. We then can grab an OT with our own 4th round pick. Of course Rhodes or Fargas would not be traded until we've secured McFadden on draft day. Rhodes took a pay cut so he would be easy to trade to someone who needs help at rb. I don't believe that Dorsey, and both Long's will be available at #4. I cannot see us spending #4 money on a linemen. Especially when we gave Kelly such a large contract. Everything I've seen points to the Raiders taking McFadden unless someone jumps up ahead of us to grab him. The chances of that happening are remote.
3 months ago
Trade, trade, trade! I hope Jerry Jones is as infatuated with McFadden as the reports keep saying. His two 1st rounders and a 2nd could plug lots of holes. It's not like the Raiders are one player away from being Super Bowl contenders. Trade, trade, trade!
from 3 months ago
AL DAVIS doesn't trade down.... its fact.
3 months ago
why not trade down to somewhere between #6 to #9, select Keith Rivers and pick up a 2nd and 3rd round pick. This would solidify our linebacking core plus use the additional picks on the o-line and a big young wide receiver.
peter
3 months ago
Exactly, we're not one player away from winning a Super Bowl so why not draft McFadden and build our offense around him and Russell? Although I would love for the Raiders to be playoff contenders next year, the odds are that they will be a sub .500 team no matter who they pick or even if they trade down. Take McFadden and in the 09, 10, 11 seasons watch out for the Raiders!
3 months ago
trade fabian and routt along with our 1st for two late firsts and a second? what an idiot. dallas would have to give us those three picks and a player just for our 1st. besides, thats to far to trade down. swap with the jets at #6 and pick up an extra 3rd or fourth and still get a player we want.
3 months ago
trade fabian and routt along with our 1st for two late firsts and a second? what an idiot. dallas would have to give us those three picks and a player just for our 1st. besides, thats to far to trade down. swap with the jets at #6 and pick up an extra 3rd or fourth and still get a player we want.
3 months ago
I have to shake my head when I see this trade down for a LB and a wideout BS. If wer'e not one player away from a super bowl we are definately not 2 or 3 mediocre players away from...whatever. There are 6 or 7 known impact players available in this draft. We are one impact player away on our defense from making it an elite unit. Trading down for an LB and a WO makes as much sense as drafting a punter with the number 4 pick to give lechler some competition.
3 months ago
lame
3 months ago
I agree with trading down. DT is a need that still has yet to be addressed with a REAL solution.
With Cable's influence on the OL already, I believe the second biggest need is WR. Watching Russell's throwing style (into coverage), he'll need a receiver or receivers that can fight for the ball. Speed will also help make use of Russell's arm and it would be nice to draft someone young to 'grow' with Russell through the years.
Trade down, pick up a WR and a DT. Use later round picks for OL.
3 months ago
No, the team we feilded last year wasnt one player away from a superbowl but we've added and improved our team by more than just one player. On offence, with jamarcus getting the start from day one (he can show the world why he is considered the most talented qb out of college since peyton mabey better) with michael bush making his nfl debut (remember he would have been a high 1st round pick and is beast 6'1 245lbs with quick feet and great vision, perfect for a zone blocking scheme) along with javon walker, drew carter, an upgrade over simms and a healthy center, we have added quite a few studs to go with fargas (break out year) curry (can now be more effective in the slot) oren oneil (great rookie season) zack miller (even better rookie season) .
On defence we added a young versitle safety, the best ss we had since rod woodson which also allows huff to move to free where he can finnally excel. we added d hall to create the best cb tandem in the nfl which also moves last years starter (fabian and routt are pretty good dbs, just when your playing oppisite asomugha your gonna get alot of balls thrown your way) to the nickel. Thats quite a secondary. Plus T kelly coming back from injury and finnally being able to play the 3 techniche which was occupied by an aging sapp. He will dominate. add some line depth and I say we are very close to the playoffs< mabey even one player away.
3 months ago
This comment is straight opinion, but this is how i would like the Draft to play out for the Raiders, Draft Glenn Dorsey, or Cris Long if neither are on the table at number 4 and McFadden is take McFadden, but feild phone calls for him base on useing the pick value chart. Jets should be interested in McFadden for there 1st and 3rd, but if we could rob them of there 1st and 2nd in true Raider fashion that would be great. Only make this trade if Gholston or Ellis is still available. That why we get a potintional elite Defance linemen and another pick before round 4 with the bonus of insuring McFadden does not end up in KC which could be a thorn in are side for the next 8 - 10 years
3 months ago
If chris long is gone than trade down with a team looking to land mcfadden, dorsey or gholsten but stay in the top 10. dorsey and ellis are not run stuffing tackles. Best scenario : Miami takes matt ryan(mccown is not the answer and 3-4 defences much like the zone blocking o-line dosent invest in top dollar lineman), st louis takes jake long(orlando pace is just about done and there line is terrible, dont need a rb), atl takes glenn dorsey(added turner at rb and drafted a de number 1 last year. raiders trade with jets who covet mcfadden. chiefs take ellis or clady or mabey lb(no de, has jared allen) #6 raiders take jake long! plus added another pick in third round.
3 months ago
I'm not sold on Jake Long because (I could be wrong) Jake Long plays Right Tackle and I am not guaranteed he can make the Jump to Left in the NFL. (Remember the Robert Gallery Hype). Plus it was reported Harris was hand pick by Cable to play in his system. It just seems better to Draft McFadden first then trade that why worst case scenario if you can't get an elite Defense Lineman that we need the most you get stuck with an elite RB prospect that has been put in the same sentence as Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson.
3 months ago
I say trade with the Jets, they want McFadden really bad!!! Package the #4 pick and Fabian Washington (they need a CB) for the the #6 pick and D'brickashaw Ferguson and their 2nd round pick. We can get Gholston with the 6th pick and address the O-line at the same time. Also we would get a high 2nd round pick or package that pick with Jordan or Rhodes and move back up into the late 1st round. Whatever happens, you never know with Al Davis.
3 months ago
i am so sick of hearing this bullsh!t. DMC is not and never will be the kind of running back that bo or marcus was. get over it, he is tall and skinny, looks like a wideout a la reggie bush
3 months ago
pretty good stuff... you guys need some run D stat so Gholston isn't the best fit in my eyes... Ellis isn't the end of the problems in that area but a draft committed to the D could make Oakland into a serious contender. there are some nice gems later on as far as defensive players go (see terrance wheatly, Jay Leman, Stan Kelgar, and Ahtyba Rubin) I also really doubt that New England will trade up, they will likely trade down but a deal involving NE and Washington is a serious possibility, perhaps for the Pats' good 3rd rounder. I've seen Joseph play and he doesn't really seem to care, unless Al Davis/Lane Kiffin can kick him into shape... get ready for a dissapointment on that front.
a bit of advice on the article as a whole: you make some good points but more spacing in paragraphs makes things easier to read, even if it messes with the flow of the piece somewhat. Also, 2nd paragraph is largely unnecessary, just say what you want to say with a little bit of an introduction
pretty good stuff though as I said before.
peace,
Max
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comments, Max! Yes i was considering the fact that Gholston could provide support to your aging LB corps and since he was killa under the Buckeye's 3-4 defense, the patriots may want him. That is why the Pats may want to trade up to the Raiders. Oh yeah Joseph got a deal that looks something like 2 years for $750,000! He better start getting his act together unless he want his football career to come to an end. Oh yeah thanks for the advice as well. Ill start spcing more from now on. Thanks for the comments once again!
3 months ago
DMC is 6'2" 210lbs that is Identical To Marcus Allen so to your standerds Marcus Allen is tall and skinny a la Reggie Bush
3 months ago
AMEN BROTHER!! My thoughts EXACTLY! We take McFadden to give us a much feared 1-2 PUNCH with DMAC/Bush!!
We then trade off the dead weight (Rhodes, Washington) for a RD 2 pick and grab Trevor Laws DT or Phillip Merling DE/DT to fortify the D-Line!
With our 4th rounder we go WR and take Dexter Jackson (Wes Welker II) to wreak havoc in the slot!
3 months ago
Thanks for the comments everyone! For some reason I cant respond to each one individually and when ever I click "Reply To This Comment", it takes me to the top of my page. Sorry once again!
3 months ago
McFadden is only 20 years old and has plenty of room to grow. I think while dedicating himself to mini-camp and training camp by hitting the weights and training that he will easily be around 215 to 220lbs. If he is available an the #4 pick then I think the Raiders should jump all over him right away.
3 months ago
It'll be fun to see what Al does come draft day! I bet he's done on the D-line and just can't pass on McFadden. The guy is FAST! Yall all know how that gets to Al. Jordan is going to be gone. Rhodes may be as well. Bush is a beast! McFadden has hands, speed and agility. He is a treat from anywhere on the field. My feeling is that Al didn't award those huge contracts to Kelly this year, Sands last year plus keep Warren around to pay another DT as the #4 overall pick. He's gonna make Ryan earn his keep. What player in this years draft will, more thatn any other, help J. Russell become the 6 billion dollar man? Which of the top 5 players in this years draft can catch out of the backfield, take a swing or screen pass to the house? Of the top 5 picks, which can take a draw 99 yards or a 3rd and 1 for 49 yrs? What is it that Al treasures most of all?
3 months ago
SPEED!
3 months ago
I like the scenario you layed out for the Raiders tradinng down to the Pats or Dallas and aquiring more picks in the 2nd and 3rd round. If we trade down and still stay in the top 10 and Sedrick Ellis lands in our lap , that would be a great draft day manuevre. But knowing Al he is not budging from that #4 spot. If Mcfadden is there at 4 he is good as nabbed by the Silver and Black. Is he a need? no. Is he a want? most definately. It could be a win win situation for the Raiders. Iam not quite sure how things are going to play out for us on draft day, but I'm sensing that things are going to turn the Raiders way for a change. There is definatley great talent in the first 10 picks in the 1st round this year and all of the projected players in the top 10 are going to help his respective teams immediately. Fox Sports Radio is reporting that currently the Raiders are trying to trade down and get out of that #4 spot. Only way I see that happening is if Al has worked out a great compensation deal with multiple picks . If the Raiders are able to aquire 2 first round picks that would be a great thing. There are so many holes to plug on this team , and the smart thing would be to address those issues. Iam so stoked for this years draft, I hope the Raiders do the right thing, get the ( expletive) Media off our backs, have all the naysayers and all the haters shut their stinkin sewer holes! Only way to do this however is to quit losing and start winning. Raider Nation is growing impatient.
3 months ago
DON'T DRAFT McFUMBLE !!!!!!!! 23 last year alone - lead the nation
AL HATES FUMBLERS>
3 months ago
Actually for the trade to happen it would cost correctly they would not have to give up that much to get the two pick from Dallas. Dallas is the one trying to trade down not the Raiders. Just trading McFadden or the forth pick overall will get the 22nd-28th and Dallas 2nd round and even possible a 5th round pick so if this were to happen no need to trade Washington or Rhoutt. Though if the Raiders do not make this trade and want 2nd or 3rd round draft pick they may be able to trade players at that time to another team. The forth pick overall is worth 1800 points and Dallas picks at 22 and 28 they only total 660+780=1440 not enough to trade that far up without them giving up something else.
And yes McFadden is overated and that's why realistically I feel the Raiders will make the right choice and go w/ one of the two top DE Long or Gholston and if going to trade it will come later.
3 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: I think there's a huge chance that DE Chris Long will fall to us at #4. My top 7 Mock Draft has OT Jake Long #1 / DT Glenn Dorsey #2 / QB Matt Ryan #3 / DE Chris Long #4 / OT Ryan Clady #5 / RB Darren McFadden #6 / DE Vernon Gholston #7
3 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: And if DT Glenn Dorsey & DE Chris Long are gone by #4. Then I have the Raiders taking either DE Vernon Gholston or DT Sedrick Ellis. And OT Jake Long could be a possibility at #4 to the Raiders if he's still on the board.
3 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: I think RB Darren McFadden falls to #6 with the Jets or to #9 the Bengals. If QB Matt Ryan is off the board by #6. Then I think the Jets pull the trigger on Darren McFadden. And then I have DT Sedrick Ellis maybe falling to the Bengals if the Raiders don't pick him at at #4.
3 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: This is probably the trickiest 1st Round to predict for me. The only thing that I think I know for sure is that the Kansas City Chiefs will go O-Line at #5.
3 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: I also think that the Dolphins taking OT Jake Long at #1 is a "SMOKE-SCREEN" move. They very well could select DE Chris Long #1 considering Jason Taylor's age. If that's the case then I have the Rams taking OT Jake Long at #2 and the Falcon's taking DT Glenn Dorsey at #3.
3 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: I'm almost certain that the Oakland Raiders are going D-Line at #4.
3 months ago
RAIDER STEVE says: Potentially RB Darren McFadden could fall all the way to the Bears.
3 months ago
Umer,
Good article, and I agree with most of it. I think William Joseph and Kalimba Edwards are depth only, and not the answer.
The trade down to the Jets or the Pats and still getting Cedrick Ellis seems most likely to me too, and the most sensible. As for the O line, Paul McQuistan looked good at right tackle towards the end of last year, and I think we will see Mario Henderson contribute this season as well.
I don't see us drafting a tackle with these two, plus Kwame Harris and Cornell Green under contract.
It would be nice to be picking at 3, but we are still in a good position, as I don't think Jake Long gets past the Rams at 2,or Ryan gets past the Falcons at 3. That should leave us either Long or Dorsey which suits me fine.
Gholston could go early, his workout numbers might elevate him into the top 3, which would also be good for us.
Its always fun being a Raider on draft day, and you never know what kind of stuff Al will pull, but its always something!
Dave
about 1 month ago
duude i didnt think this article was all that great. the raiders arent a good team and they arent going to be for about 15 more years! RAIDERS SUCK!
about 1 month ago
RAIDERS SUCK! just like this article! hahaha
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