Oakland Raiders' Top Three Reasons They Will Not Draft Crabtree or Maclin

Twenty days, Raider Nation. Twenty more days of prophesy and prediction.

According to the myriad supply of mock drafts posted on-line, fortune tellers across the nation seem to have Davis and Co. picking anyone from Michael Johnson to Darrius Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft. Needless to say, there's a large breadth in opinion when considering an Al Davis draft pick.

Yet, when guessing at who will be the next wunderkind to don the silver and black, no names materialize as much as those of Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin.

Now, granted, anyone who followed the Raiders last year knows how badly the team is in need of a bona fide No. 1 wide-receiver. It doesn't take a draft guru to figure that one out (I'm talking to you, Kiper and McShay).

However, when surmising what Mr. Davis might do, most draft pundits seem to lack knowledge in one important area—the Raiders. So, to help inject some sense into an otherwise hyperbolic discussion, here are three reasons as to why the Raiders will not be selecting either Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin.

1. A Plan

In case you haven't noticed, the Raiders finally seem to have a plan heading into next season. And make no mistake, that plan starts with JaMarcus Russell.

Some contend that what Russell needs most is a viable option at WR. But according to recent comments by Coach Tom Cable, offensive tackle still remains the priority. "For us right now, we've got to get someplace better on that football team. For us, it means something like protecting JaMarcus Russell. That's were we have to start."

Although some argue that the Raiders have addressed their needs on the offensive front, I beg to differ.

The acquisition of Erik Pears, Samson Satele, and Khalif Barnes no doubt signal improvement, but too many questions remain to pass on top tackle prospects like Andre Smith and Michael Oher, either of whom would instantly add depth and credibility to a tenuous offensive line.

Consequently, by strengthening the OT position, the Raiders will ensure the development of other emerging talent, e.g. Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Zack Miller, Oren O'Neal, Chaz Schilens, and Johnnie Lee Higgins.

In the end, selecting an offensive tackle would not only benefit Russell, but pledge a commitment to the Raiders youth movement as well.

2. Measurables

Let's admit it, Al Davis loves freakish athletes. Stories of Russell's arm strength at the 2007 combine took on the air of urban legend, McFadden's 4.33 40-yard dash magically extinguished any concerns about his character, and Sebastian Janikowski's bionic leg in 2000 was tempting enough for Mr. Davis to spend a first-round daft pick on.

Yet, When looking at Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, the measurables just don't equate to a prototypical first-round Al Davis draft pick. Furthermore, neither one is much different (physically, at least) from receivers currently on the Raiders roster.

First, let's compare Maclin with Raiders speedster Johnnie Lee Higgins.

Higgins: 6'0", 190 lbs, 4.43 40-yd dash, 36-1/2-inch vertical. Maclin: 6'0", 199 lbs, 4.45 40-yd dash, 35-1/2-inch vertical

Draft experts hail Maclin's versatility in the kicking game but since they obviously don't watch Raider games they must have overlooked the fact that Higgins emerged as a star punt returner last year, returning three punts for touchdowns.

Maclin may have more meat to him, but questions have risen about his toughness. Seems he has a bad habit of taking his eyes off the ball when going down the middle. Hence, he's primarily a straight-line receiver who needs improvement on route running but can return punts. Sound familiar?                 

Second, let's look at Michael Crabtree's measurables against those of Chaz Schilens.

Michael Crabtree: 6'1", 214 lbs, unknown 40-yd dash (guessed at mid 4.5's), 34-inch vertical. Chaz Schilens: 6'4", 225 lbs, 4.38 40-yd dash, 43-inch vertical

Now, for all you Crabtree sycophants out there, settle down, by no means am I implying that Schilens is a better prospect than Crabtree. I'm merely pointing out that Crabtree lacks both the speed and physical traits of an archetypical Al Davis deep-threat or possession receiver.

Athletically, Schilens is the faster, taller, and stronger of the two. If there's an X-factor, it resides in Crabtree's competitive nature and more developed football IQ. Yet, there's lingering questions about his off-field behavior.

At the combine, word was that Crabtree came off as immature, showing a promo video of himself hanging out with ex NFL stars while other prospects presented videos illuminating their work ethic and community accolades.

Hence, if Crabtree lacks the physical traits that Al Davis so highly covets and the team-first character traits that Coach Cable celebrates, what makes one believe that the Raiders will invest a guaranteed $15-20 million on him?

Now, if there was only a receiver that possessed both the physical features and moral fiber that Davis and Cable covet.

Well, looky here...

3. Ramses Barden      

Ladies and Gentleman, say hello to your Oakland Raiders 2009 2nd Round Draft pick. Raider brass has been drooling over this kid since the combine and sent a contingent of scouts to evaluate his pro-day at Cal Poly as well as his appearance at USC's pro-day where he caught passes from Mark Sanchez. 

Barden seems to posses the best combination of measurables and character of any receiver entering this year's draft. Physically, this kid's a monster.

Ramses Barden (WR Cal Poly): 6'6", 229 lbs, 4.48 40-yd dash, 33-1/2-inch vertical

Can you say red-zone threat?

Barden's height and long arms had scouts tripping over themselves at the combine. Additionally, the kid's tough and doesn't mind going down the middle. In his senior year at Cal Poly, Barden had at least 131 yards receiving and one touchdown in every game.

Character wise, Barden has a reputation as a work-out warrior and although confident, possess enough humility to keep him grounded. His stock has soared since the combine and word is he impressed with his interviews as well as his workout.

The biggest knock on Barden is the level of competition he went up against at the division I-AA level. Many scouts consider him a legit third-round prospect, but don't expect the Raiders to take a chance on losing him.