Raiders Draft Picks 2017: Results, Grades and Analysis for Each Selection

It's time for the Oakland Raiders to push their Super Bowl hopes into overdrive. Coming off a 12-4 season and a major signing, which added hometown favorite running back Marshawn Lynch to the backfield, the Silver and Black seem primed for another good season with added spunk. 

On Thursday, general manager Reggie McKenzie will have the No. 24 pick, barring a trade up or a move down. The Raiders should have their sights set on a linebacker to open the draft. The front office opted not to re-sign the previous year's starters at the position. Malcolm Smith signed with the San Francisco 49ers, and Perry Riley Jr. remains a free agent.

Will McKenzie follow a pattern in addressing the biggest roster need in the first round, or does he explore options at defensive tackle, cornerback or safety?

We'll break down each Raiders draft pick as the names come in from Thursday to Saturday.

Round 1, Pick 24: CB, Gareon Conley, Ohio State

The Raiders selected cornerback Gareon Conley with the No. 24 pick in the draft. It’s a surprising selection for multiple reasons. The Ohio State cornerback upholds his innocence in rape accusations, originally reported by TMZ.com. Typically, McKenzie goes after prospects with fewer questions in their backgrounds at the top of the draft. Nonetheless, it’s assumed the team did its due diligence before making this decision. He passed a polygraph test before the draft, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Secondly, the Raiders have greater needs within the front seven, specifically at linebacker. McKenzie decided to overlook linebackers Reuben Foster and Zach Cunningham for a player who will likely see limited snaps as long as cornerbacks Sean Smith, David Amerson and T.J. Carrie remain effective.

As a player on the field, Conley has the size that’s attractive to the defensive scheme. He’s 6’0”, 195 pounds with the ability to press wide receivers on the perimeter. If Smith struggles through his second season with the Silver and Black, expect Conley to replace him.

If everything checks out for Conley and he’s able to move forward without a suspension or further litigation, the Raiders have a quality player. News reports in the following days will be pivotal in forecasting his availability for training camp and the upcoming season. At the moment, it’s a highly questionable pick with potential to blossom in his second season. 

Grade: B-

Round 2, Pick 56: S, Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut

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The Raiders addressed a very thin safety position with the No. 56 overall pick. Obi Melifonwu brings range and physicality to the secondary. The decision to select the Connecticut product shows the preparation to transition from 33-year-old safety Reggie Nelson within the next year.

At the moment, Keith McGill is listed as the only reserve safety on the roster. With Melifonwu's skill set, he should be able to challenge for backup snaps in his rookie campaign. He logged 118 tackles, four interceptions and three passes defensed during his senior season.

Oakland continues to add defensive backs with size who can play physical with the opposition. The Raiders' first-round pick, Conley, fits the same mold.

After Nelson's contract expires after the 2017 season, expect Karl Joseph to play center field as the deep safety with Melifonwu closer to the line of scrimmage. However, don't be surprised if the two switch roles based on the Connecticut product’s insane athleticism.

Thus far, McKenzie has made a clear effort to bolster the secondary as opposed to adding talent to the front seven. Nonetheless, Oakland's No. 56 overall pick can help the defense in run and pass situations. The Raiders don't have any excuses for an underperforming secondary in 2017.

Grade: A

Round 3, Pick 88: DL, Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA

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Every year, Raiders fans look at an early-round draft pick and either scratch their heads or feel lukewarm about the selection. Defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes falls into that category in 2017.

Prior to tearing his ACL during his junior campaign, Vanderdoes flashed athleticism and quickness as a disruptor near the pocket. However, he didn't look the same after redshirting and returning to the field in 2016. We should assume the team scouts did their homework on the 305-pound interior lineman, and he'll continue to improve two years removed from a significant injury. 

Nonetheless, Oakland needs help along the defensive line to replace defensive tackle Dan Williams, who underperformed in the previous season. Defensive end Mario Edwards has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, and the front line could use added depth for run support.

Vanderdoes won't be asked to start, but he needs to be effective plugging holes in the trenches, which is a reasonable expectation for his skill set. However, if the team hopes for increased quarterback pressure in the A-gaps, it's not the UCLA product's forte. Strangely, McKenzie continues to ignore the linebacker spot, which needs quality talent.

Grade: C

Round 4, Pick 129: OT, David Sharpe, Florida

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The Raiders stick to their scheme for the offensive line with the No. 129 overall pick. David Sharpe stands at 6'6", 343 pounds with 35 3/8" arms. He's a massive offensive lineman who uses power to keep defensive linemen at bay.

Sharpe lined up at left tackle during his tenure at Florida. He worked his way from a freshman backup to a starter for his sophomore and junior campaigns. Due to his size, Sharpe may struggle against edge-rushers with quickness like Von Miller. Nonetheless, his reach can stonewall pass-rushers, and his power squashes defenders.

McKenzie made the decision to address Donald Penn’s potential successor. The 11th-year veteran enters a contract year at 34 years old. The Raiders also have several players competing at right tackle, which indicates strong competition at the position through training camp. Sharpe's stiffness may force him to move inside or join the battle on the right.

The Raiders take pride in building and maintaining Carr's protection. This particular pick won't make an impact until a season or two later. McKenzie continues to wait on an inside linebacker to plug in the middle. Nonetheless, Sharpe could pan out at three different spots across the offensive line.

Grade: B

Round 5, Pick 168: LB, Marquel Lee, Wake Forest

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McKenzie addressed the linebacker corps with the No. 168 overall pick. Wake Forest product Marquel Lee plays like a traditional inside linebacker, who's aggressive going downhill against the run but struggles when backpedaling into pass coverage. 

On the positive side, Lee logged 14.5 sacks and 41 tackles for a loss over the past three seasons at Wake Forest. Defensive assistant John Pagano maximizes his linebackers in blitz packages. Expect Lee to leave his mark when rushing the pocket.

However, through four seasons, Lee has only two passes defensed, and he lacks the speed to chase receivers and ball-carriers in the open field. The Wake Forest product may have to sub out on third downs as a liability in space. 

In the first few seasons, the Wake Forest product will earn his keep on special teams. Similar to Cory James, Lee comes into the league as a viable pass-rusher at linebacker who's effective against the run, but he doesn't bring enough athleticism and quickness to cover tight ends downfield or take down agile ball-carriers once they reach the second level of the defense. 

Grade: D

Round 7, Pick 221: S, Shalom Luani, Washington State

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Oakland reloads its special teams unit with safety Shalom Luani at No. 221. The seventh-rounder exhibited solid intermediate cover skills at Washington State. He logged eight interceptions and 11 passes defensed in two seasons with the Cougars. 

Luani could develop into Taylor Mays' role from the 2015 season, which puts him in specific coverage duties against receiving tight ends. According to NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein, the 5'11", 202-pound safety has limited range, but he can be used effectively with controlled assignments on shorter routes. 

"Washington State was forced to protect him by playing him in more underneath zone where he was able to cover and not worry about being the last line of defense," said Zierlein.

On the other hand, Luani could flame out on special teams due to poor tackling. Zierlein counted 31 missed attempts and 11 broken tackles during his two-year tenure at Washington State. His poor form also hurts his ability to play the box safety role.

The Raiders probably took note of his ball production and his potential to clamp down on tight ends and running backs 10 to 15 yards downfield. Without a healthy Neiron Ball at linebacker, someone has to step into the tight end-stopper role.

Grade: B-

Round 7, Pick 231: OT, Jylan Ware, Alabama State

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McKenzie goes with another offensive lineman at No. 231 in the seventh round. Offensive tackle Jylan Ware didn’t compete against top-notch competition at Alabama State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which may add to his learning curve.

However, on film, he displayed qualities that suggest he's capable of developing into a starting tackle on the perimeter. At 6'8", 295 pounds, his size checks the Raiders' perquisite box for offensive linemen.

As far as technique, he differs from the team's No. 129 overall pick, Sharpe. Ware flashes athleticism and quickness in motion. He's noticeably tall but not stiff. Offensive line coach Mike Tice will likely want him to add approximately 10 pounds to his frame to put him over the 300-pound mark. Without the added bulk, powerful edge-rushers may be able to knock him off balance.

Oakland can't seem to get enough big offensive linemen. You can toss Ware’s name into the hat as a potential replacement for Penn in the near future. McKenzie continues to add reinforcements to the trenches with the intent on keeping Carr's jersey clean whether the starters or backups are on the field. However, at this point, you wonder if it's overkill with a struggling defense in need of more pieces.

Grade: C

Round 7, Pick 242: RB, Elijah Hood, North Carolina

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Despite signing running back Marshawn Lynch to complement DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard in the backfield, the Raiders add another big-body tailback to the depth chart in Elijah Hood.

At 5'11", 232 pounds, Hood could take over for Beast Mode when he retires for a second time. As a sophomore at North Carolina, the stout ball-carrier barreled into the end zone for 17 touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

As a junior, he missed a few games and shared the workload with running back T.J. Logan, who came off the board in the fifth round to the Arizona Cardinals. Still, Hood ran for 858 yards and scored eight touchdowns on the ground.

Just in case Lynch doesn't revert to Beast Mode, McKenzie adds some insurance with another short-yardage back who can take hits and keep his legs moving after contact. Hood also blocks well in space, which allows him to stay on the field on passing downs to protect Carr. For a seventh-rounder, he brings great value.

Grade: A

Round 7, Pick 244: DT, Treyvon Hester, Toledo

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McKenzie puts a 300-pound bow on the 2017 draft with a 3-technique defensive tackle at No. 244. Treyvon Hester displayed his passion for the game and his determination to perfect his craft when he dropped 20 pounds to gain quickness after his junior campaign, per Zierlein.

The weight loss contributed to a solid year. Hester put together his best collegiate season as a senior. He logged a single-season high in sacks with five and notched 8.5 tackles that resulted in a loss. He comes into the league in great shape at the top of his game.

After releasing Williams, the Raiders certainly need a pass-rusher next to defensive tackle Justin Ellis or an asset who can handle two-gap assignments in nickel packages. Hester could potentially check both boxes for the defense.

Deep in the seventh round, McKenzie adds a Day 3 steal in Hester. Similar to Vanderdoes, the Toledo product won't be asked to start. The coaching staff will likely unleash him on quarterbacks as a rotational defensive tackle. If he improves on run defense, he could become a three-down starter in the near future.

Grade: A