Max Valles to the Oakland Raiders: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The Oakland Raiders drafted Justin Tuck’s eventual replacement in the sixth round of the draft. Max Valles didn’t get the same recognition teammate Eli Harold received heading into the draft, but he’ll become a solid player for analysts to talk about going forward. 

In 2014, the Virginia defensive lineman led the team with nine sacks. He’s comfortable dropping back in coverage with eight passes defensed. In addition, he’s a decent run defender who's able to track ball-carriers and disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage (12.5 tackles for a loss). The coaching staff can keep him on the field for all three downs as well as blitz schemes.

Fifth-round pick Neiron Ball will be a true project. Valles isn’t polished, but he’s a proven commodity off the edge. At 6’5”, 251 pounds, he has the frame to compete with tackles and run stunts between the gaps in effort to rack up sacks.

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One AFC defensive line coach described Valles as a athlete instead of a football player in a complementary fashion to NFL.com, "He's an athlete and not a football player right now. If it starts to click for him and he starts to put the tape work together with the talent—look out, buddy. If it doesn't click, you've got a backup defensive end." 

In other words if he learns the game through the playbook and applies it to the field with his physical gifts, the upside increases exponentially. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller further dissects Valles' fit with the Raiders in a possible 3-4 re-alignment:

Fortunately for Valles, he’ll have at least one season to learn the position behind Tuck and Khalil Mack. He won’t be expected to start on Day 1, but as a sixth-round pick, there’s no rush to put him on the field. 

Tuck has been relatively healthy lately, only missing six games in four seasons. However, if Oakland fails to make the playoffs and it’s quite obvious by the last quarter of the season, Valles might see limited action in the starting lineup. 

One of Valles' pass-rush moves should be a stunt fake to the inside. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein points out the Virginia prospect came up small against a physical tight end and bigger offensive tackles:

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Florida State tight end Nick O'Leary kept him blocked all game long. Lack of instincts and feel prevents him from utilizing proper footwork and angles to attempt tackles at times. Sack total skewed. Vast majority of sacks did not come with a win against a tackle. 

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The coaching staff will have him in the weight room increasing his core strength and improving his footwork to help him get the best position against the opposition. Technique should be the focus of his initial training, essentially learning how to beat opponents with attributes unrelated to his athleticism. 

General manager Reggie McKenzie’s fifth-round pick was a disappointment, but he followed with a prospect who’s better suited to address the need for a solid pass-rusher. While Ball’s intended role is unclear, Valles’ intended role is clear.

Head Coach Jack Del worked wonders with a 6’3”, 237-pound pass-rusher named Von Miller. He and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. could develop Valles into a monster. The only caveat in his game is lack of instinct. In many cases, football instincts can’t be taught. It comes with experience of knowing your assignment.

Athleticism alone won’t propel the Virginia defensive lineman into a starting position. He must hit the playbook and adopt an arduous film study habit to reach his maximum potential. If he commits himself, he’ll reach double-digit sack totals.