Who Was a Bigger Reach: Darrius Heyward-Bey or Tyson Jackson?

Being an Oakland Raiders fan and seeing all of the negative comments with regards to the drafting of Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick in the draft, I decided to take a look at another pick in the draft, and I’m curious why there’s not an inkling of negative press about defensive end Tyson Jackson being drafted third overall by the Kansas City Chiefs?

Most media outlets and draft boards had Brian Orakpo as the top defensive end in this draft followed by Aaron Maybin. Jackson was expected to come off of the board in the middle of the first round. Even Mel Kiper had Tyson Jackson ranked as the 16th best player in this draft. Todd McShay had Jackson going to Denver with the 12th pick with two ends being picked before Jackson (Orakpo and Maybin).

Why didn’t the Chiefs trade down if it was so easy to trade down? Based off of the media’s outrage over Davis choosing Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick and not trading down, why couldn’t the Chiefs trade down to pick up more picks and pay less to their new defensive end? Now they get to pay top-three money to a player who wasn’t even considered the premier defensive end in this year’s draft?

The Chiefs more than anything needed a dominating nose tackle for their 3-4 defense, and B.J. Raji was the more ideal pick for them. Yes, they have defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, but he’s undersized as a nose tackle and undersized at the defensive end position in the 3-4.

Had the Raiders been in exactly the same situation, they’ve would’ve been called out. The only reason Heyward-Bey was called out is because he was drafted by the Raiders and his measurables fit Davis’ speed/height/weight preferences. Had Heyward-Bey been drafted by anyone other than the Raiders, I highly doubt the pick would’ve had so much negative press.

Heyward-Bey was expected to come off of the board by the middle of the first round, if not by the 20th pick (the Giants expressed interest in trading up for him). The Raiders didn’t need Jeremy Maclin because he’s a carbon-copy of another receiver on the roster, Johnnie Lee Higgins (both speed and special teams ability). The Raiders also didn’t need Michael Crabtree, as he was going to duplicate a position for which the Raiders already have a possession receiver in Chaz Schilens. Heyward-Bey is a system fit for the vertical offense Tom Cable is installing.

So the Chiefs take their perfect system fit player and it's fine and dandy, but the Raiders do exactly the same thing and it's instant madness? If you want to call either player a “reach,” well then both fit the example perfectly.

The only reason the Raiders get called out is because they are the Raiders. Any Raider fan knows about the media bias by ESPN and other outlets.

If the Raiders reach, it's bad, but if New England reaches or any other team for that matter reaches, then it’s OK because they know what they are doing?