Oakland Raiders: Latest Combine News and Rumors
This is the offseason, but NFL front offices are on full throttle. The Oakland Raiders have another top-five pick that could potentially become a building block within the roster for years to come.
However, drafting a bust or marginal talent at the top of the draft will keep Oakland in the cellar of the AFC West, so it’s essential that the front office continues to do its homework—starting with the NFL Scouting Combine, keeping eyes on the best selections for the fourth overall pick.
The rumor mill is always churning. Some reports should be taken with a grain of salt, while others shed light on some pivotal roster moves. Here are the latest offseason storylines concerning the Raiders.
Eyes on Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota
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According to ESPN.com writer Bill Williamson, Oakland should have eyes on Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.
Don’t worry, Derek Carr is safe as the Raiders quarterback, but Winston and Mariota’s draft stock will affect what’s on the board for Oakland at No. 4.
If both Winston and Mariota are impressive at the combine and their respective pro days, it could entice the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans to select QBs with the first two picks. Secondly, it could tempt another team to trade up and allow Oakland to accumulate more draft picks.
Think about the Washington Redskins in 2012 when they swapped picks with the St. Louis Rams. Now think about how the Redskins are trending downward and the Rams are trending upward several years later.
An offer similar to the Redskins’ 2012 deal with the Rams—that year's No. 2 pick, two future first-round draft picks and a second-round pick, as reported by Fox Sports' Jay Glazer—would certainly be ideal compared to any potential pick at No. 4 in this draft.
Kevin White or Amari Cooper at Wide Receiver?
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Heated debates have surfaced concerning whether or not Oakland should select a wide receiver at No. 4.
Secondary debates in favor of choosing a WR have weighed options between Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker.
Initially, Cooper was considered the consensus No. 1 WR in the draft. However, according to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, several NFL teams currently have White valued slightly higher than Cooper.
White certainly has an impressive skill set, but teams should boast with caution. He only has one great season on his resume as a senior out of West Virginia. Cooper, a junior, was an impact player in all three seasons at Alabama. Clearly, White’s production isn’t proven to be as sustainable as Cooper’s.
The league and its fans have fallen in love with the taller receiver.
According to the graphic in Matt Miller's clip, Cooper currently measures in at 6’1”, 210 pounds, while White comes in at 6’3”, 209 pounds. Size doesn’t necessarily correlate to increased talent at wide receiver, and in this case, the size differential isn't vastly disproportionate.
If the Raiders plan to go with a WR at No. 4, they need someone who is most likely going to contribute right away. Logically speaking, one would believe the receiver with a more established college resume is apt to making a stronger impact in his first year at the pro level.
Randy Gregory or Shane Ray for Pass-Rusher?
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Oakland could also opt to select a top-notch edge-rusher at No. 4, one that will force offensive lines to respect its pass rush and significantly diminish the time QBs have to pick the secondary apart.
Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board has Randy Gregory ranked ahead of Shane Ray as the draft's best pass-rusher, while Todd McShay has the inverse.
Gregory offered some context to his game in an interview with Eric Olson of The Associated Press (via The News Tribune).
"I like standing up," Gregory said. "It serves my body better, my physical traits better, being able to see the play form and stay in an athletic stance and make plays. At the same time, if a 4-3 team comes around, I feel I can help them and play that spot."
If new head coach Jack Del Rio carries over the 4-3 defensive scheme, it could help the Raiders split hairs between Gregory and Ray.
Ray accumulated 14 sacks in his only impressive year at Missouri.
According to Sam McKewon of Omaha.com, former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini revealed that an old injury sidelined Gregory for a portion of his senior season:
"(Doctors) went in there, and they fixed it. I’m not a doctor, but it was an old injury. Something he did playing basketball years ago. Just flared up on him. The MRI clearly showed it was an old injury.
It was a non-contact (injury). It’s just something where, you’re out there playing, you don’t really know what flares something like that up. It did. The doctors could tell from looking at the MRI that it was very old, whether it’s scar tissue or whatever made it flare up.
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The nature of the injury seems a bit troubling. He went down due to what could be a reoccurring issue in his pro career. Gregory has a more polished two-year college span than Ray, but injuries are always a cause for red flags, specifically those that occur without contact.
Neither player will be as polished as Khalil Mack. New defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and the coaching staff must play a huge role in developing either edge-rusher.
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Raiders Expected to Pursue Terrance Knighton
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According to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, Terrance Knighton could be moving in with his former defensive coordinator from Denver.
This free-agent tidbit shortens the list of potential candidates for the No. 4 pick while also putting a damper on rumors about pursuing free-agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Danny Shelton has shot up the ranks on draft boards. He is currently a top-10 pick on both Kiper Jr. and McShay’s draft boards as a viable consolation prize for Oakland if USC's Leonard Williams is off the board.
Shelton is a disruptive force in the middle as run-stopper and pass-rusher. He recorded nine sacks in his senior season at Washington.
News about Oakland’s pursuit of Knighton would pair him with Justin Ellis, who had a solid rookie season.
Overall, Knighton was the 12th-ranked defensive tackle in 2014 with a plus-12.7 rating, per Pro Football Focus, but signing him would diminish the interest in Suh, Shelton and even Williams if he miraculously slips past the Titans at No. 2.
Is Center a Need for Oakland?
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The increasing murmurs of Stefen Wisniewski’s ticket out of Oakland would create a crucial need on the offensive line.
The Raiders could be playing hard ball with the four-year center, or this could be a prelude to parting ways with their homegrown talent.
As Wisniewski’s future with Oakland hangs in the balance, per ESPN writer Michael Wagaman, the Raiders could be eyeing Oregon's Hroniss Grasu. He is the second-ranked center in the draft and a potential replacement for Wisniewski.
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com highlights the positives on Grasu:
"Grasu broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and has been a key ingredient to Oregon's high-powered offense over the past three season. He has had a ton of success opening up running lanes for a talented stable of backs while also doing an effective job as a pass-blocker.
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Lance Zierlein of NFL.com pinpoints some holes in his game:
"Doesn't utilize length effectively. Uses inconsistent hand placement. Handles power players pretty well at point of attack but tends to lose balance when engaging the same players on the move. Marginal acceleration around the corner when asked to pull. Not a leverage winner in short-yardage situations. Needs additional weight.
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The center makes coverage calls at the line of scrimmage and is an essential piece to a solid offensive line. General manager Reggie McKenzie cannot handle the position with a lackadaisical approach. If Wisniewski isn’t his guy, he must find his replacement quickly.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com.
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