Oakland Raiders Mock Draft: Final 7-Round Predictions

While the new era in Oakland has begun, the first real event under the leadership of general manager Reggie McKenzie is the 2012 NFL draft. 

This is actually the seventh installment attempting to predict the Raiders' 2012 draft, and a lot has changed since the first such post back in February. 

Reggie McKenzie's first draft will be handicapped, with the first pick not until the end of the third round and of the compensatory variety that can't be traded.

McKenzie has a crisis of depth, and while the roster's top end could have the Raiders competing for the playoffs, a key injury could send the Raiders into the AFC West basement.

Can McKenzie find the Raiders a couple of starters later in the draft like Desmond Bishop, Jermichael Finley or Josh Sitton?

The Raiders Will Draft a Tight End

If Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and Reggie McKenzie agreed on best-player-available drafting, the following is a breakdown of positions the Packers drafted since 2008, when McKenzie was promoted to director of player personnel. 

Tight end appears to be an outlier and one that Raiders Nation shouldn't ignore. Additionally, Jermichael Finley is used much more like a receiver and less like a traditional tight end. 

The Packers drafted three tight ends since they drafted Finley in 2008, but all of them came in Round 5 or later. 

Although the Raiders have four tight ends on the roster, McKenzie could find one in the draft. 

It's not exciting when the team selects a late-round tight end, but it's something worth considering since the Raiders don't have a clear-cut starter at the position.

Michael Egnew, Missouri and Brian Linthicum, Michigan State

Smooth and coordinated athletes with a nice feel for the zone. Good hands. Red-zone targets. Not inline blockers.

Offense: 20 picks

2 Quarterbacks

3 Receivers

3 Running backs

4 Tight Ends

8 Offensive Linemen

Defense: 14 picks

3 Linebackers

3 Defensive Tackles

4 Defensive Ends

4 Defensive Backs

Rolando McClain Will Have Competition

Perhaps not direct competition, but a player that can step in and play right away and that has the potential to play in the middle.

Previously discussed prospects that could eventually push for a job in the middle include many of the same prospects that could help with the depth at outside linebacker.

Demario Davis, Arkansas State

Should push for a role on the strong side to start and could find himself in the middle within a year or two.

Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

Limited to the middle and reminds me of oft-injured linebacker Travis Goethel.

Jerry Franklin, Arkansas

Reserve to start, but solid overall prospect.

Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Boom-or-bust pick that could be made late.

James-Michael Johnson, Nevada

A quality middle linebacker prospect would be quick to push McClain. 

Emmanuel Acho, Texas

Versatile and should be able to play all three linebacker positions in the 4-3, making him valuable as a reserve early in his career. Would push McClain within a year. 

Nigel Bradham, Florida State

Has a lot of potential, but most scouts question his instincts. If he learns quickly, he has potential, considering that he has the athletic skill set. 

The Raiders Will Draft a Defensive Tackle

Defensive Tackle Josh Chapman from Alabama is still recovering from an ACL injury, and no one really knows how much the injury is going to impact his draft stock.

There is a good chance the Raiders never get the opportunity to draft Chapman and will have to look elsewhere for a 1-technique defensive tackle that will clog the running lanes.

Other possible players that could fill this role:

Mike Martin, Michigan

Work ethic and love for the game. Understands leverage and hand usage and plays above his skill level. 

Akiem Hicks, University of Regina

Has the talent to be successful in the NFL, just needs coaching on his pad level and hand usage. 

DaJohn Harris, USC

Long-term upside and can be worked into the defensive tackle rotation right away.

Hebron Fangupo, BYU

Has natural strength, but plays high. Long-term upside if he can develop. Good work ethic. 

Reggie McKenzie Will Find a Pass-Rusher

It's unlikely that West Virginia linebacker Bruce Irvin falls to pick No. 95, leaving the Raiders looking for other pass-rushing options in the draft.

It's a weak draft, and Reggie McKenzie and the scouting department may have to reach pretty deep. Here are a few options the Raiders could consider with a draft pick or as priority free agents.

Finding a Kamerion Wimbley replacement is a top priority. 

Sammy Brown, Houston

Thrived as a 3-4 rush linebacker at Houston, but can fill the same type of role in the Raiders' 4-3 as a SAM linebacker on third down.

Miles Burris, San Diego State

Really came on strong late in his college career as a pass-rusher and plays with a high motor. Great work ethic and can play on special teams. Local product, played at Granite Bay High School in the Sacramento area.

Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh

Good first step and lateral quickness. Best chance to make a roster is as a rush linebacker. Needs work in other areas.

Tim Fugger, Vanderbilt and Kaelin Burnett, Nevada

Both are elite athletes, but also tweeners at the NFL level. They are naturally explosive and would be limited to the pass-rush specialist roles, only until they could develop as reserve linebackers. 

Zone-Blocking Offensive Tackles

Outside of Jared Veldheer and Khalif Barnes, the Raiders don't have another offensive tackle on the roster unless you include Joseph Barksdale. 

Barksdale is the primary backup at tackle and guard at the moment, but he may not have participated in the Raiders' voluntary mini-camp.

Depth here is a requirement, and GM Reggie McKenzie will need to bring in one or two offensive tackles for the coaching staff to work with.

Nate Potter, Boise State

He's athletic and good in pass protection, but will struggle man blocking because he needs to add strength through his lower half. Ideal zone-blocking lineman, but might take a year or two to develop. Potential Khalif Barnes replacement. 

Matt McCants, Alabama-Birmingham

Much like Potter, but he needs to get stronger overall. Athletic with long arms. Has left-tackle potential in time. 

Brandon Mosley, Auburn

Understands angles and his limitations. Potential right tackle. Not a real natural knee-bender and gets sloppy with his technique at times. If he can play more consistently, he has potential at right tackle. 

Zebrie Sanders, Florida State

Another athletic lineman (sensing a theme here) that can get to the second level. Has the frame to add the bulk he needs to add to become a starter. Mostly right tackle experience, but also played left tackle in college.

Zone-Blocking Offensive Guards

In addition to offensive tackle, the Raiders need depth at the guard position.

It's still unclear where Joseph Barksdale will play, and the only other players on the roster are 2011 practice-squad players Alan Parsons and Zach Hurd. 

Kelvin Beachum, Southern Methodist

Ideal zone-blocking guard. Natural pass-protector and good getting to the second level in the run game. Quick feet and good range to the outside. 

Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh

Not an ideal fit in the zone-blocking scheme, but he should also be productive as a man-blocking guard to get a push on linemen. Understands angles and plays with a mean streak.

Desmond Wynn, Rutgers

Good balance, and he operates quickly. Can get pull, but needs more experience, as he doesn't always seal well once he gets there. Developmental zone-blocking player that needs two years to learn the position. 

Two Trades

Whether GM Reggie McKenzie trades players for picks or trades picks for picks, he will make a trade or two. 

McKenzie needs additional draft picks and could ship out the Raiders' original fifth-round pick or a future late-round draft pick to add additional picks this year.

Expect McKenzie to consider player trades on a case-by-base basis, because the Raiders don't have many areas of strength from which to deal.

McKenzie believes he can get a starter or future starter in the fifth round, so expect him to try to get more picks in the fifth round and above if he can.

Outside Linebacker

Aaron Curry restructured his contract, and the Raiders singed Philip Wheeler to a one-year contract. But the Raiders don't have much, if any, depth. 

The Raiders need at least one if not two outside linebackers. One is likely to be a rush linebacker and the other a legitimate backup with potential to start.

Demario Davis, Arkansas State

Should push for a role on the strong side within a year and can play on special teams and be a key reserve and fourth linebacker in 3-4 sets.

Nigel Bradham, Florida State

Perfect fit for the new defensive scheme. Is a run-and-hit linebacker that can develop as a reserve and eventually start. Big upside. 

Josh Kaddu, Oregon

Athletic, but needs a lot of refinement. Needs to learn how to use his hands better, and his footwork in coverage needs to improve. Slow to react to what he is seeing. He's raw, but with potential upside.

McKenzie said he wanted football players and not athletes, but he might make exceptions for a guy like Kaddu if he loves the game and is willing to put in the work to improve.

6'0" and 190 Pounds

Reggie McKenzie, realizing it or not, likes a certain physique in a cornerback. Typically, about 6'0" and at least 190 pounds.

The Raiders have two young cornerbacks in Chimdi Chekwa and DeMarcus Van Dyke and two veterans on one-year deals in Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer.

The rest of the cornerback group is unknown, and quality depth is needed. There are a few prospects that fit the McKenzie mold that can be drafted later or signed as priority free agents. 

Chris Greenwood, Albion

Elite athlete from Division III school. Might take a little time to get up to speed, but has the physical tools to be a starter.

Donnie Fletcher, Boston College

Ideal Cover 2 corner, but a bit tight and limited schematically at first. He's got potential to develop man-to-man skills in time.

Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina

Talent to go in the first two rounds, but character concerns might drive his stock down. Can play press man and has talent to match up with NFL receivers.

Micah Pellerin, Hampton

Another small-school prospect. Pellerin, in particular, is a favorite of draftniks who cite that he has rough areas of his game, but all of them are coachable.

Buddy Jackson, Pittsburgh

Put up elite workout numbers. Didn't start in college, but was heavily utilized as a kick returner and special teams player. A developmental player worth drafting in the seventh round or trying to sign as a priority free agent.