Oakland Raiders Are In The Perfect Situation To Trade Down

Al Davis has never traded down in the first round of the NFL Draft, and Raider fans will be the first to tell you so—especially if an article like this surfaces.

Although Al Davis has never traded down, he's never made such smart moves in an off-season like this in a long time. He's kept team consistency (Tom Cable) over another over-haul of different coaches and opinions, also focusing on re-signing his players over dishing out big bucks to free agents.

That's right, Al Davis is working with his head coach. Tom Cable has been happy as ever as the Raiders head coach, in which the previous ones before him have found much difficulty.

If Davis and Cable are truly listening to each other and are on the same page, the Raiders may be more open to trading down in the draft than other years. The reasons and justifications for this are there.

The Raiders haven't had any of the top prospects in for visits. Granted, there are a few weeks til draft day, but they have to be one of the only teams, especially in the top 10, that haven't had one of the premier prospects in town yet. If they have, they have done really well of keeping it hush-hush.

It's possible that Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, two of the drafts best receivers (according to NFL Network's Mike Mayock and ESPN's Mel Kiper) will be available when the Raiders pick seventh overall. Not to mention if a quarterback, such as Matthew Stafford and/or Mark Sanchez slide to that pick, the Jaguars could be interested and have been rumored to be so.

Right now, the Jaguars look like they are either going to take the best receiver available for David Garrard, or they are going to draft his replacement. This makes the Raiders pick quite valuable to teams such as the Broncos, Jets, and Eagles (receiver), who could look to trade up.

Being that Donovan McNabb has been rumored to be struggling to keep happy with what he has to work with at receiver, the Eagles could package both of their first round picks (21, 28) and move up in front of the Jaguars to get Crabtree or Maclin.

If the Broncos and Jets covet one of the top quarterbacks, they will have to trade up as the Jaguars and 49ers could both have a quarterback on their radar at picks eight and ten.

If just one of the teams (Lions at No. 1, Seahawks at No. 4) who are expected to take a quarterback doesn't, that changes things and opens up doors that weren't there before.

So the Raiders have a lot of options with the seventh pick overall. Not only the teams who desire a receiver, but ones who also are in need of a quarterback, will make sure to have the Raiders on speed dial.

Being that Al Davis has thrown millions upon millions of dollars away and has tied them up in his own players recently, paying another unproven top 10 pick doesn't seem first choice for him and the Raiders.

Who are the Raiders looking to draft at No. 7 anyways? Could they look to draft B.J. Raji (if he falls there) to help fix their run defense or draft a receiver like Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin to help out JaMarcus Russell?

Since the Raiders have kept a close eye on Cal Poly's receiver Ramses Barden and Penn State's receiver Derrick Williams, they could be targeting one of them in round two, that way they could leave their options open with their first round pick.

One thing for sure is the Raiders are not showing their hand. It's worth noting that previous draft picks that they had in for visits before the draft were indeed drafted (JaMarcus Russell number one in 2007, Darren Mcfadden number four in 2008).

The Raiders have a good plan, and Tom Cable has echoed that. When CBS asked Tom Cable his biggest needs in the draft, he didn't exactly tell them.

"I'm not going to tell you," Cable said. "Well, I mean, you know, there’s no reason for me to go into that right now because it’s far too important and, you know, we have a great plan, I believe, so, yeah, let it play out. Let it work."

We will see if this great plan, not only plays out, but works. Tom Cable has already vowed that his team could be a potential playoff team this year.

He can start the process by drafting well, because most teams that reach the post-season and beyond don't just piece free agents together with their current team and get a player or two in the draft that work out.

They get a lot out of players that they draft and add a small amount of free agents. Something Al Davis is starting to learn for himself after expecting turnarounds through free agency signings the past few years.