Oakland Raiders 2015 NFL Offseason Draft Scouting Guide
General manager Reggie McKenzie has drafted solid parts of the Oakland Raiders' future, which include Derek Carr, Khalil Mack, Latavius Murray and Sio Moore.
McKenzie's fourth draft will be critical in helping the Raiders finally overcome futility. This draft should focus primarily on improving Oakland’s interior defense and adding offensive skill players.
The Silver and Black gave up a whopping 119.4 yards per game on the ground and ranked dead last in total yards of offense. Those statistics alone are indications why it took 11 games to celebrate one victory.
On a positive note, Oakland finished the season 3-3 behind a young nucleus of players; a sign of things to come for the Raiders.
This early mock draft will suggest the addition of complementary talents to keep the momentum on the upswing. Each pick was selected based on need, how the player fits within the roster and talent projected to be available in a given round.
Round 1: Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama)
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The first pick is going to be a tough decision between Amari Cooper and either Randy Gregory or Leonard Williams (whoever the Jacksonville Jaguars don’t select).
When it comes to building an NFL team on the fast track, offense becomes a priority. In an offensive-driven league, there are more prolific scoring offenses than dominant defenses in the playoff picture.
Furthermore, the Raiders must help Carr. He needs to develop with a reliable target as his go-to guy when the coverage is tight.
James Jones is not a No. 1 wide receiver. He was the Green Bay Packers third-best receiver and was barely Oakland’s best receiver over Andre Holmes this season.
Cooper will step into Oakland’s offense and make an immediate impact. He’s the Southeastern Conference leader in receptions (115), receiving yards (1,656) and receiving touchdowns (14).
He spent three productive years in college, which makes him a polished prospect.
During those years, he has exemplified the ability to break free from tight coverage and make some amazing plays with keen ball awareness. Add in the fact he's a competitive downfield blocker, and the Raiders will have a complete wide receiver.
A Carr-Cooper tandem will immediately jump-start Oakland's passing attack to a respectable level.
Round 2: Nate Orchard (DE, Utah)
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The Raiders' divisional opponents understand the importance of a good pass rush. Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Demarcus Ware and Von Miller impact the game by disrupting quarterback timing with pressure and sacks.
Oakland was only able to sack the quarterback 22 times, tied for second-least in the league.
McKenzie can change the poor fortunes of the pass rush by drafting Nate Orchard from Utah. He led the NCAA in sacks this season (18). The 6’4”, 255-pound edge-rusher is very athletic; he began his collegiate career as a wide receiver and also lined up as an outside linebacker.
The Raiders don’t need a two-way player, but his versatility gives great insight on his athleticism.
Orchard can start right away, considering C.J. Wilson enters free agency after an underwhelming season in Oakland.
The Utah prospect will need to build more strength to handle NFL tackles.
As a positive, Orchard has the quickness and ability to shed tackles when chasing down quarterbacks. His ability to catch passes at his size allows him to drop back into pass coverage to defend tight ends and running backs out of the backfield.
Round 3: Eric Kendricks (ILB, UCLA)
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The Raiders are in need of an immediate upgrade at interior linebacker. The defensive coordinator can simply pair up a new talent with inside linebacker Miles Burris and run a 3-4 defense going forward.
Eric Kendricks is another polished collegiate prospect with four solid years playing for UCLA. In two of those years, he led the team in tackles.
He has shown the ability to shoot gaps and make stops behind the line of scrimmage using his innate football instincts. Yes, it’s in his bloodline. His brother Mychal Kendricks currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his father was a running back in the CFL.
The youngest Kendricks player is a ball hawk, with 467 tackles in his collegiate career. In his senior season, he displayed the ability to play in coverage, grabbing three interceptions and successfully returning one for a touchdown.
While Burris hasn't been the most productive player in Oakland's linebacker corps, Kendricks can be a great complement between Moore and Khalil Mack in a 4-3 defense.
Kendricks is probably the most complete linebacker projected to be drafted in the third round. His aggressive play helps shed blockers to track the quarterback when necessary.
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Round 4: Chucky Hunter (DT, TCU)
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The third and final piece to bolstering Oakland's interior defense is Chucky Hunter. Along with Orchard and Kendricks, Hunter can help transition the front seven from flimsy to ferocious.
Opposing teams chose to run the ball straight down the Raiders' throats. In 10 out of 16 games, the defense allowed more than 100 rushing yards.
Hunter has the football abilities and the tangibles to make a great mid-round selection. He is a stocky run-stopper with quick hands and feet. He’s also a high-character player for the locker room.
Last season, he was TCU’s leading tackler and was voted Second Team All-Big 12. At 6’1”, 305 pounds, his power compensates for his shorter stature. He's readily able to shed blockers with ease and wrap up quarterbacks at will.
Round 5: Karlos Williams (RB, Florida State)
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Darren McFadden's time in Oakland might come to an end as he enters free agency. Maurice Jones-Drew produced absolutely nothing in his first year, so it's time to move in a new direction to uplift the rushing attack.
Latavius Murray provided a spark out of the backfield late in the season, but he might not be able to withstand 20-plus carries a game on a consistent basis. The Raiders need some muscle to move the ball on 3rd-and-short or on the goal line.
Karlos Williams is the perfect pick to complement Murray's speed. At 6’1”, 225 pounds, Williams is a more physical running back with good hands.
In two seasons, he has 21 rushing touchdowns. In his senior year, he caught 24 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown. He continues to develop as a running back after playing safety for two seasons.
He has the physical style and speed to be a bruising ball carrier with elusiveness. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is an added bonus.
Round 6: Jermaine Whitehead (FS, Auburn)
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Charles Woodson isn't showing any signs of slowing down at the mature age of 38—but Father Time is undefeated, and Woodson likely has one more year before hanging up his cleats.
The Raiders would be smart to draft his understudy now.
Jermaine Whitehead is the perfect prospect to learn the game from Woodson while he's still a productive player. Whitehead has the attributes to emulate the style of play Woodson exhibits on the field.
The Auburn prospect is a solid tackler. He has the ability to play close to the line of scrimmage and make stops against the run.
In his senior year, he intercepted four passes in four games.
Woodson converted to free safety after playing cornerback for 14 seasons. He can teach Whitehead about the safety position and aid the development of his pass-coverage skills.
Next season, Woodson can still be a decent playerand an even greater teacher for a talent like Whitehead.
Round 7: Leon Brown (OG, Alabama)
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Derek Carr was only sacked 22 times in 2014, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Oakland’s offensive line wasn't a big issue this year, but Austin Howard is currently playing guard—outside of his natural position as a tackle.
Aging veteran tackle Donald Penn allowed four sacks this season. The offensive line should benefit from shifting Howard back to his natural position. Drafting a sizable guard would help solidify line protection for Carr and Murray.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is known for recruiting burly offensive linemen to shield his quarterback and clear lanes for his running backs. The track record is nearly flawless if you examine the successes of former Alabama running backs Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy and current running back T.J. Yeldon.
Murray could also reap the benefits of running behind guard Leon Brown, who started two seasons with the Crimson Tide. Based on his 6’6”, 320-pound frame alone, he can make it difficult for defenders shooting gaps to stop the run.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com. Draft-prospect rankings courtesy of CBSSports.com.
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