2011 NFL Draft: 10 Draft Prospects the Oakland Raiders Should Avoid

I had to lead with the Russell picture. Simply as a reminder that there is a reason players have red flags on draft day.

As we are only a few weeks away from the NFL draft it is now time to issue a few suggestions and warnings to the Raiders. Though they lack a first-round pick, plenty can still be done to strengthen the team.

I'm going to work under the assumption that restricted free agents will return to the Raiders. I've also noted players that it seems the Raiders would pursue given their team needs, drafting styles and Al Davis. Okay so technically that could be anyone, but I've tried to narrow it down.

Ryan Mallett QB

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

Do we need anymore players with issues?

Ryan Mallett is a projected second-round pick and is thought to be pursued by multiple teams. The Raiders, however, need not be one of those teams.

There's no doubt that Mallett has the talent to be in a pro style offense, but given his disciplinary history, the Raiders need to avoid taking a flier on him. Numerous questions have been raised about his character, and in addition there have been multiple rumors regarding his drug and alcohol abuse.

Given the Raiders' history of problem players, it would be in their best interest to steer clear of Mallett and search for a potential future quarterback that has fewer red flags.

Tyrod Taylor QB

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies rolls out of the pocket against the Stanford Cardinal during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Marc Se

Just no.

Tyrod Taylor might seem like an interesting player to grab in the late rounds but his upside is minimal in the NFL.

In his four years at Virginia Tech, Taylor managed only a career 57.4 completion percentage and appear to prefer moving out of the pocket than dropping back and passing. His career stats, though similar to those of Tim Tebow, would imply he is better suited as a halfback than a quarterback.

Any time in Oakland would likely go worse than the Russell years, as Taylor as a weaker arm with similar poor accuracy. The Raiders might be interested given his potential versatility but as undersized quarterback, 6'1", 215lb, he would be hard pressed to succeed in the silver and black. 

Jacquizz Rodgers RB

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CORVALIS, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Jacquizz Rodgers #1 of the Oregon State Beavers runs with the ball against the Southern California Trojans at Reser Stadium on September 25, 2008 in Corvalis, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

It's no doubt this year's running back class is slim and undersized.

Jacquizz Rodgers is the perfect personification of this fact.

I have little doubt he would be successful in some NFL systems as a Darren Sproles like role, returning kicks and having 10-15 touches per game. For the Raiders, Rodgers just doesn't make sense. The Raiders running game relies on alternating between speed and strength, McFadden and Bush. Rodgers wouldn't work because his speed that made him great in college won't transfer well enough to the NFL.

He's not fast enough to evade NFL defenders in the running game, and he becomes an injury liability because of his size. As a result, he suffered from injuries in junior year. I think he will find his niche somewhere the NFL but as a running back on the Raiders, his talent would be too stretched to risk drafting him.

Ricardo Lockette WR

Who you ask? Exactly.

Ricardo Lockette is a wide receiver out of Fort Valley State University, who tore up at the combine with a 4.35 40 time. Lockette reportedly was shooting for a time of under 4.3 but underperformed under pressure. He is primarily a track player who won the Division II 200m dash but he only caught 19 balls for 228 yards last season.

Lockette is a projected late round pick.  He's the type that Al Davis falls in love with because of the speed and athleticism. The problems is he looks to be under developed as a football player and would need a good deal of time on the practice squad before he could contribute on the field. The Raiders could think they are getting another Jacoby Ford by drafting Lockette but while Ford came from UT, Lockette is more of a track runner on a Division II football team. The Raiders need to avoid wasting a draft pick on this track star.

Will Rackley OG

I just don't trust small school offensive linemen.

Lehigh's Will Rackley is the fourth ranked OG and is projected as a late second-round to to third-round pick. If he was thought to be a fifth or sixth-round pick I would have no problem, but to take him using an early round pick is too risky for a big fish in a little pond.

Rackley had a very durable career starting 40 games; he also had a very good combine and East-West shrine game, but its still hard for me to expect another small school OL to succeed on the Raiders. They did great last year in grabbing Veldheer but I don't think the Raiders' luck will extend to Rackley. It is clear the Raiders need another OL but I'd rather they take a player from a more established program with more experience playing against high level teams.

He could be good, but I don't think the Raiders should take the risk, given the necessity that they improve their offensive line.

Owen Marecic FB/LB

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies attempts to avoid the pass rush by Owen Marecic #48 of the Stanford Cardinal during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 4

Two way players are sexy, but they can't cut it in the NFL. Once upon a time, the player that went both ways was revered, but that was a few decades ago.

All entendre aside, Owen Marecic is a solid player but is overvalued because of his versatility. At Stanford he would typically play more than two thirds of the total plays of the game because of his ability to play linebacker and fullback.  At the combine he worked out as a fullback and would look to predominately play that position in the NFL. He is the third ranked fullback and is a middle round pick.

In the NFL its likely he would only pay linebacker in emergency situations and his value is diminished as a result. Though he is as solid fullback, Davis and the Raiders mustn't be hypnotized by his potential upside, were he to play both positions. He is an interesting pick but not one the Raiders should make in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Mike Mohamed ILB

Teams must avoid hometown picks.

Don't get me wrong, I love Mike Mohamed; he was a great player in his time at Cal. But his skills aren't going to transfer to the NFL. He will probably be a decent member of a kick coverage team. Unfortunately he is undersized as a linebacker and will have difficulty dealing with lead blockers and big running backs. Too frequently he tries to ankle tackle and agile backs and receivers will be able to avoid him and his "go for broke" tackling method.

It's always fun to a have a player from a nearby school succeed at the local NFL team, but the Raiders would be hard pressed to have Mohamed find success in their system.

Jabaal Sheard DE

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 04: Jabaal Sheard #97 of the Pittsburgh Panthers tackles Zach Collaros #12 of the Cincinnati Bearcats during the Big East Conference game against at Nippert Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pittsburgh won 28-10.

An undersized defensive ends need speed, but where is it?

Jabaal Sheard is reigning Big East defensive player of the year. However, at the NFL level its difficult to see how he will succeed. Though talented, Sheard isn't the biggest defensive end available at 6'3", 264lb, and he doesn't have explosive speed off the line to be a part of the outside rush. As a linebacker he'd probably be solid. But The fact he's ranked in the top ten of defensive ends and a projected late first-round, early second-round pick makes me think he's way overrated in an apparently slim class.

It seems he may be highly regarded because of his dominance of the underwhelming Big East, but his speed is lacking and while he plays stronger than his weight, it probably won't be enough against NFL offensive lines.

The Raiders will certainly have him on their mind as their first pick in in the draft, but there are more pressing issues the Raiders need to address, and plenty more defensive end talent available later in the draft.

Demarkus Van Dyke CB

He won't get his own 50's style TV show anytime soon.

DeMarcus Van Dyke is a combine work out wonder from the University of Miami. His forty times of 4.25 and 4.28 show that speed is not his problem. His issue is size, as he is only 6'1" and 175lbs. As a CB he's likely to have difficulty with strong receivers. He also played a bit of running back at Miami and worked out unsuccessfully as one at the combine.

Whether or not Nnamdi Asomugha returns, it's no doubt the Raiders need another defensive back. Van Dyke is intriguing because of the speed, and affordability (he's projected as a late round pick), but it would be a crap shoot on his level of success. CB is a high priority for the Raiders and waiting until the late rounds to take Van Dyke would not be the best method to strengthen the Raiders secondary.

Buster Skrine CB

Speed isn't everything, I'm looking at you, Al.

Buster Skrine was a bit of an unknown quantity prior to the combine. Now, he's listed as a top twenty cornerback. Projected as a fourth or fifth-round pick, Skrine's 4.37 40 time is impressive, but a major question is his size. He's only 5'7" and 145 pounds which is why he ended up at UT Chattanooga, but it remains an issue on Draft day.

If he were a Sproles' back, it would be another question, but when DeSean Jackson can beat you both in speed and height then you've got a problem. I don't see the Raiders really considering him anyway because of his size but who knows with Al Davis these days. I think he could be a solid return man or special teams gunner, but as a starting CB it will be an uphill battle for Skrine.