Speed Fills Biggest Need for Raiders

It was a shocker, some would say, when the Raiders took Darrius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland with the seventh overall pick in the NFL Draft. Well, not to Oakland—who saw him as the best receiver in the draft, at least for them.

A lot ask why not a trade down? Well, Al Davis as always, has stuck with his style of not trading down in the first round of the NFL Draft, and this year the tradition lived on as the Raiders may have reached a little with the speedy (4.3 40-yard dash) receiver out of Maryland.

The Raiders will tell you otherwise, as Tom Cable was quick to point out later on Saturday that Heyward-Bey may have less of a learning curve than other top receivers Michael Crabtree (49ers), Jeremy Maclin (Eagles), and Percy Harvin (Vikings)—who all come from the spread offense.

The knock on Heyward-Bey is inconsistent hands and numbers while at Maryland. However, one can argue that he never had a quarterback who could get him the ball, and if he were to play in a spread offense, he may have scored 50 touchdowns—as Tom Cable put it.

In three years at Maryland, Heyward-Bey accumulated 138 receptions, for 2,089 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has never averaged less than 14.5 yards a reception while at Maryland, and with his speed he has the ability to take it to the house every time he has possession of the football.

What the Raiders love about Heyward-Bey, besides his speed and vertical ability to go up and get the ball, is his work ethic and drive. He had this to say to Oakland Tribune's Jerry McDonald in a media conference call that took place on Saturday:

"My favorite player is Jerry Rice and he played for the Oakland Raiders late in his career. That’s my favorite player. His work ethic is beyond anybody else. That’s who I try to model myself after when it comes to work ethic. Past that, I think I have my own unique type of game."

If Heyward-Bey's work ethic is half of what Rice's was, the Raiders will be very happy with their first round pick.

In terms of overall talent, the 49ers were licking their chops when Michael Crabtree fell into their lap and was taken with the 10th pick overall, being that he was atop most people's draft boards as one of the best players in the draft.

For what it's worth, rumors were flying before the draft that Crabtree scared off the Browns and possibly the Raiders with a "Diva" attitude.

When he was passed by the Raiders, a presumed relative of his that was sitting at his table, wiped his hand across his face as if to say "that was close" and Crabtree laughed. So maybe that "no comment" quote (when asked how he'd look in silver & black on an NFL.com chat) wasn't taken out of context and being that Al Davis doesn't like it when players don't want to play for him, that could have played a factor.

Both Heyward-Bey and Crabtree will reside in the Bay Area now, and the Raiders and 49ers will look back on this draft a couple years from now (or sooner) to see who got the better receiver.

People may laugh, get mad, or be totally struck in amazement that the Raiders took Heyward-Bey with the seventh overall pick, but the reality of it is that Al Davis hasn't had a deep threat in Oakland since Randy Moss was traded in 2007.

Guess which NFL player Raiders scouts compared Heyward-Bey too?



Check back tomorrow for a look at the rest of the Oakland Raiders drafted players, and where they look to contribute...