Oakland Raiders 2014 NFL Draft Day 3 Primer

The Oakland Raiders selected Derek Carr with their second-round pick. Reggie McKenzie had yet to commit to a quarterback long-term in his first two years as the general manager for the Oakland Raiders. Taking Carr in the second round is the highest pick the Raiders have used to acquire a quarterback since McKenzie took over. 

Oakland also acquired an extra fourth-round pick by trading the 67th overall pick to the Miami Dolphins. In return the Raiders received the 81st and 116th overall picks from Miami. Now Oakland will have five picks tomorrow. This was a good trade by Reggie and the Raiders. 

Day 2 Analysis and Recap

QB Derek Carr

The Raiders make another great pick with Derek Carr. They stood their ground and didn't sacrifice any picks to get him. Carr was one of the top quarterbacks in this draft, and many have compared him to Jay Cutler. He has a strong arm and a quick release.

In a few years we could look back and say that Carr was their best pick from this class. That's saying a lot because I think Khalil Mack will be one of the league's premier pass-rushers and an All-Pro defender. This is a quarterback-driven league.

To win in this league you have to affect the passer and have a quarterback capable of winning games with his arm. The Raiders have added one of the best pass-rushers and one of the passers in the draft. Oakland finally has a quarterback it can groom and call the quarterback of the future. 

Trade: The Raiders traded the No. 67 pick to the Miami Dolphins and received the 81st and 116th picks. The Raiders now have two fourth-round picks.

OG Gabe Jackson

Jackson gives the Raiders a big guard who can come in and compete for a starting spot right away. Jackson should find himself competing with Kevin Boothe and Khalif Barnes for the final open spot on the offensive line. 

Jackson is 6'3" and weighs 336 pounds. He'll eventually be a starter along the offensive line for the Raiders, and if things go well for him he could be starting in 2014. This is a good pick for Oakland, as the offensive line has been a weakness for a long time. 

Updated Needs for the Oakland Raiders

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

D.J. Hayden needs help in the secondary.

Defensive Backs

The Raiders will still need to find some defensive backs in this draft—whether it's a safety or cornerback. Oakland will have to replace Charles Woodson eventually. I don't think the Raiders can find a replacement for a player like him on the third day, but it's a position that still needs some help. 

Defensive Line

Oakland will want to add some beef along the defensive line whether it's a pass-rusher on the edge or a big man in the middle. I think the Raiders would be more likely to find a player who will stick on this roster if they look along the defensive line. Most of the linemen on the Raiders roster are not signed for the long-term. Finding a player like Stacy McGee on the third day would be great. 

Offensive Line

Khalif Barnes and Donald Penn may not be with the Raiders after the 2014 season. It's going to be important for Oakland to find players to develop along the offensive line. I don't know if it can find a starter for 2014, but it could draft a tackle in the later rounds to groom. 

A Playmaker

At this point in the draft the Raiders need to find a playmaker—whether it's a receiver, cornerback or any other position. I don't think it matters at this point in the draft. Take a guy who you think can make an impact even if you have to roll the dice on a player. Oakland showed it was willing to do that last year in the later rounds. 

Top Targets

DT Daniel McCullers, Tennessee

The Raiders would love to add more size along their defensive line. The 6'7", 336-pound defensive tackle would provide that for the Raiders. 

DT Anthony Johnson, LSU

Johnson is another defender who the Raiders could target here. He is not as big as McCullers but still has good size (6'3", 308 lbs) and played in a tough conference. The defensive line is still something I see the Raiders addressing in this draft. 

DE Ed Stinson, Alabama

The Raiders could use a young defensive end to groom behind Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley. Stinson could be a guy who can come in on a rotational basis and maybe eventually take over as a starter. 

What the Experts Are Saying

ESPN's Todd McShay: "He consistently folds under pressure."

Pressure in Carr's face was an issue, as it is for most quarterbacks. Carr isn't the perfect quarterback right now, and he has things he needs to work on just like any other quarterback taken before him. This is why it could benefit Carr to sit behind Matt Schaub for a year. 

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco: "You end up with (Khalil) Mack in the first round and get your quarterback in the second. I don't love the kid as a quarterback, but if the Raiders do this is a good pick for them."

The Raiders were linked to Carr before the draft, and some thought they would trade back into the first to get him. Some even had them taking him with the fifth pick. Oakland added a player like Mack and got the quarterback it wanted. This is a good move.

3 Raiders Predictions for Day 3

Raiders Will Draft a Defensive Tackle

The Raiders still need a defensive tackle, and I think they find one in the fourth round. There are still some good defensive tackles out there, and I think Oakland will grab one of them. 

No Wide Receivers Will Be Chosen

I don't expect the Raiders to take a wide receiver. Rod Streater, James Jones, Denarius Moore, Andre Holmes and Juron Criner should be enough to stop Oakland from drafting a receiver. 

One More Trade

I think McKenzie will acquire more picks tomorrow. He should trade the Raiders' first fourth-round pick and acquire another one and a fifth-round pick for it. Look for Reggie to add more players. 

Mock Draft

Round 4, No. 107—DT Daniel McCullers

McCullers has good size, and I think he'll be one of the top players on McKenzie's board when he goes up to pick at 107. 

Round 4, Pick No. 116 —WR Kevin Norwood

The Raiders may take a wide receiver in the fourth round if he is the best player available. Norwood would be a good addition to the offense. He had success in Alabama and would battle for a spot on the roster with Juron Criner. I still think this is a position the Raiders could go without, but the fans want a wide receiver. 

Round 7, No. 219—DT Ryan Carrethers

Carrethers is 6'1" and weighs 337 pounds. Any time you can pick up a guy with his size in the seventh round, that player is worth the pick. Giving him some time with the strength coaches and with the veterans the Raiders brought in could prove valuable for a player with the size needed to succeed. He needs to improve in various areas, but what seventh-rounder doesn't?

Round 7, No. 235—OT Kevin Graf

Graf played for Southern California, so you know there was some ability there. He played offensive tackle, and McKenzie likes drafting players who played offensive tackle in college because he can move them to guard if needed. Graf could be added to fight for a spot on the offensive line and give Oakland more depth. The Raiders currently have 10 offensive linemen on the roster, so it would be tough for him to find a spot on the roster in 2014. 

Round 7, No. 247—DE Aaron Lynch

Maybe it's wishful thinking that Lynch will be here in the seventh, but it's possible. He has shown the ability to be a good player but has also disappeared and shown the ability to be average. The Raiders would love to find a contributor in the seventh round. The odds say it's not likely.