Oakland Raiders Rookie Report Card Grades After Week 7
Critics and supporters have already expressed their opinions on Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie's rookie class. Of course, no one knows how these draftees will pan out until years later, but it's never too early for a progress report card.
Several rookies have yet to take the field due to injury, a designation for the practice squad or inactive listings on game day, which results in incomplete grades. Nonetheless, it's important to stay updated on short- and long-term expectations.
Unfortunately, injuries have either delayed or disrupted rookie campaigns for the top two draft picks. There's lingering uncertainty for both players approaching midseason.
How did first-round pick Gareon Conley fare in limited action? What's the latest on second-rounder Obi Melifonwu? We'll hand out grades for the entire rookie group, including undrafted first-year players.
Incomplete Grades
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Each player listed below hasn't played a single snap at their natural position and received an incomplete grade.
Safety, Obi Melifonwu
According to NBCS Bay Area reporter Scott Bair, Melifonwu practiced on October 17 and the Raiders designated him to return, which means he's eligible to play in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins.
Oakland's secondary needs immediate help. Melifonwu won't erase all the problems in the defensive backfield, but the Raiders can use his coverage skills in nickel and dime packages. He played free safety at Connecticut but doesn't have to line up at the same position on the professional level to impact the defense.
The coaching staff will likely ease him into the action, but it's a good sign to finally see an athletic defensive back take the field to offset coverage issues downfield.
Offensive Tackle, David Sharpe
Offensive lineman David Sharpe made his regular-season debut against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, but he only took seven snaps on special teams, which isn't enough to warrant a grade as a tackle.
Sharpe's inactivity isn't bad news. McKenzie signed left tackle Marshall Newhouse with a bargain two-year, $3.5 million deal, per Spotrac. The veteran took over the right tackle spot despite filling in for Donald Penn on the quarterback's blindside through most of the offseason program. Vadal Alexander held his own at right tackle in the previous outing with Newhouse sidelined due to a foot injury.
Sharpe may not log a start at right tackle during his rookie campaign, but he's absorbing a lot through practices and veteran leadership at the position.
Offensive Tackle, Jylan Ware
Offensive lineman Jylan Ware has been inactive for all seven games, but he made the 53-man roster, which indicates a potential future for him on the offensive line.
As an agile blocker, he's probably spending extra time in the weight room to prepare for strong pass-rushers, who use a bulrush to reach the backfield. The Alabama State product will continue to develop as a project.
Running Back, Elijah Hood
North Carolina product Elijah Hood earned a spot on the practice squad, but the Raiders didn't heavily feature the seventh-rounder through the preseason. As a result, teams haven't poached him yet.
Hood may have a future as Marshawn Lynch's replacement in one or two years. However, offensive coordinator Todd Downing hasn't optimized Beast Mode's downhill talent as much as expected through seven weeks.
CB, Gareon Conley
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Conley has battled a shin injury since mandatory minicamp in June. He suited up for one exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys and two regular-season contests.
In Week 2 against the New York Jets, Conley broke up an early pass and almost assisted with an interception. Quarterback Josh McCown only targeted the rookie twice out of 28 snaps in coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
It's telling and a subtle sign of respect when a 15th-year veteran doesn't lock on a rookie, who's coming off a leg injury, in coverage. McCown decided to throw at cornerbacks David Amerson and T.J. Carrie for a combined 11 targets.
In the following week against the Washington Redskins, Conley only saw three targets, all completed to the receiver, allowing only one yard after the catch. The Ohio State product didn't have a picture-perfect performance, but receivers couldn't run away from him, either.
Head coach Jack Del Rio cautioned about speculation on Conley's injury during Monday's media press conference. At this point, it's unclear whether the team will place him on injured reserve due to his lingering shin injury.
Based on what Conley showcased in limited action, he's a defender who can force quarterbacks to look the other way. Opposing passers will rarely catch him out of position.
Grade: B+
DL, Eddie Vanderdoes
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Don't look for sacks or tackle volume in an assessment for defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes. In his first NFL game, he helped plugged gaps in the run defense, and the Tennessee Titans' power rushing attack failed to reach 100 yards on the ground.
On film, you'll spot Vanderdoes tossing bodies around in the trenches. At times, he struggles to disengage and reach the backfield for tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Further progress should come as the season progresses into November and December.
Vanderdoes has four run stops, but he showed enough in his ability to demand help in the 5-technique defensive end spot to keep Jihad Ward on the sideline.
At this point, the rookie third-rounder has already surpassed the 2016 second-rounder for a place in the defensive line rotation. He won't log more than three sacks, but the Raiders run defense will continue to improve with him on the interior.
Grade: B
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LB, Marquel Lee
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Many expected rookie fifth-rounder Marquel Lee to take over the starting spot at middle linebacker without much in-house competition. The team waived Ben Heeney, and McKenzie didn't draft multiple players at the position. The Wake Forest product had a clear path to the starting spot.
Lee's preseason performance lacked overly impressive moments. He also struggled in pass coverage, which limits his ability to stay on the field for all three downs. However, the coaching staff put him in a position to flourish as a two-down linebacker who can clamp down on the run.
Through five games, he's logged nine run stops, which pops off the screen as a strength. However, he's logged 35 coverage snaps. To put his seldom role as a pass defender in perspective, linebacker NaVorro Bowman took 33 snaps in coverage in one game.
Clearly, the Raiders have identified a weakness in Lee's skill set and won't put him in a position to fail. As for his downhill play, it's a much-needed quality, but it doesn't cover the all-encompassing needs at middle linebacker.
Lee suffered an ankle injury in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens. Bowman's exceptional debut in silver and black may push the rookie into the background for an extended period.
Lee will have ample time to polish his skills in pass defense, but he's serviceable on early downs.
Grade: B-
S, Shalom Luani
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The "Free Shalom Luani" hashtag made its rounds across Twitter as free safety Reggie Nelson slowly reacts to passes over the top. Unfortunately, the Raiders coaching staff seems fine with the 34-year-old in center field.
Luani has played just five snaps on defense and 156 on special teams. It's astonishing the coaches refuse to give him a chance to log the team's first interception.
In two years with Washington State, Luani logged eight interceptions. He flashed his ball-tracking skills during the offseason with pass breakups and sealed a spot on the main roster with a takeaway in the final preseason game. Yet he remains tied to special teams.
Luani should appear on the stat sheet with decent tangible numbers. Nonetheless, he's doing what the coaching staff asks of him, which is cover kicks.
Grade: C
DT, Treyvon Hester
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Similar to Vanderdoes, you can't measure rookie seventh-rounder Treyvon Hester's progress with statistics. From a box-score perspective, he's registered four tackles and zero sacks, which looks like a waste.
When you look at the film, you can see Hester in four-man defensive fronts pushing the pocket. Through seven games, the rookie defensive lineman has two quarterback hits and two hurries. He's yet to sack the quarterback, but there's a reason the coaching staff puts him on the field every week.
The Toledo product flashes a good motor, and he's able to pose a threat to the passer. You rarely see Hester on the ground, which speaks to his ability to remain upright and fight for a stop.
Assuming Hester continues to progress, he'll log a few sacks during the season. He's locked in as a 3-technique defensive tackle. The seventh-rounder could pan out similar to Denico Autry as a pass-rusher with more capabilities in run defense.
Grade: C
LB, Nicholas Morrow
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Nicholas Morrow, an undrafted rookie defensive back out of Greenville College, carved out a role as a coverage linebacker for the Raiders. The defense absolutely needed his skill set at a thin position.
After flashing his ability to cover short passes and chase ball-carriers during the preseason, he's played 53 percent of defensive snaps in seven games. The Division III product also takes the field in kick coverage.
At times, communication causes lapses in the intermediate pass coverage, especially with running backs. He's also missed three tackles. Nonetheless, Morrow's performances have brought more positive than negative.
The converted linebacker allowed 14 catches for 161 yards, zero touchdowns with two passes defensed in direct coverage. Those numbers translate to two receptions for 23 yards per contest.
As the season progresses, expect his snap count to steadily rise. Right now, Morrow looks like McKenzie's 2017 undrafted gem.
Grade: A-
LB, Xavier Woodson-Luster
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Undrafted rookie linebacker Xavier Woodson-Luster hasn't played a significant role on defense compared to Morrow. He took defensive snaps in one game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.
For the most part, the Arkansas State product contributed to the revamped special teams unit through the first seven weeks.
Thus far, the Raiders kick coverage group hasn't hit a rough patch after so many departures during the offseason. Special teams coordinator Brad Seely will continue to mold the rookie into a solid defensive component in the return game.
Nonetheless, Woodson-Luster flashed all over the field against the Chargers on defense with four solo tackles and six in total. He's a capable alternate at inside linebacker if necessary. Don't expect him to perform like a Pro Bowler in fill-in duty, but he's capable of tracking ball-carriers and receivers in a niche role.
Grade: C
Advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
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