Will Silver and Black be Back?

Last year, the Oakland Raiders turned heads with their first round pick. Will it be the same this year? Raiders fan Alejandro Madrid tries to make sense of what should happen.

Following a record seventh straight season of losing at least eleven games, the Oakland Raiders head in to the 2010 NFL Draft with the eighth overall pick. The draft has not been kind to Oakland in recent years. Since 2001, the Raiders have made eleven first-round selections, and only one of them had a noticeable impact—Nnamdi Asomugha.

Looking ahead, it is nearly impossible to project the Raiders’ direction, considering owner Al Davis’s penchant for head-scratching picks. On April 22 at Radio City Music Hall, the Raiders must avoid a first round debacle similar to last year’s. Davis sent a hush over the usually boisterous crowd as he inexplicably selected Darrius Heyward-Bey—projected to be a late first-round pick—with the seventh overall selection. Davis cited Heyward-Bey’s impressive 40-yard dash time as the rationale for the pick. Without a doubt, Davis is aware of safety Taylor Mays’ jaw-dropping performance at the NFL Combine a few weeks ago in Indianapolis. However, Davis must resist drafting Mays. Despite his impressive numbers at the combine, scouts are mixed on how his skills will translate to the NFL, and he fails to address the Raiders’ most considerable needs.

Unfortunately, the Raiders need upgrades at every position except kicker, punter, and tight end. In the first round, Oakland’s wisest route would be to select a quarterback or an offensive tackle.

Oakland desperately needs a QB. JaMarcus Russell has failed to prove he is an NFL-caliber player, and journeyman Bruce Gradkowski, who played well at times in relief of Russell, is not a permanent answer. Neither of the top two quarterbacks, Jimmy Clausen or Sam Bradford, appears to fit with Oakland. Clausen’s arrogant mentality, similar to that of Russell, will only irritate fans and alienate teammates. As for Bradford, he is coming off of a serious injury, and the Raiders cannot afford to gamble on another quarterback after Russell proved to be a bust as the first overall selection in 2007.

Despite the mismatch, Oakland may be forced to select one of these two highly touted prospects if they are still available when the Raiders pick. 2011 is filled with quality quarterbacks like Jake Locker and Ryan Mallet, who would fit in nicely with the Raiders. However, the Raiders don’t have a first round pick in 2011 after trading it away to New England for Richard Seymour last off-season. In the absence of a first-round pick next year, the Raiders need to either select a quarterback this year or wait until 2012.

Even though two years is a considerable amount of time to wait, the Raiders are not going to instantly become a title contender and should be patient. Following this logic, the best use of their first-round pick is to draft a solid offensive tackle. During 2009, Oakland’s offensive line allowed the 3rd most sacks with 49. At tackle, Oakland is depleted, and 2010 offers a crop of very athletic offensive tackles that can make an instant impact. Russell Okung and Anthony Davis both possess impressive size and blocking ability that would not only protect the quarterback—whether it is Russell or Gradkowski—but also create bigger holes for running backs Michael Bush and Darren McFadden. While Okung and Davis are clearly the top two offensive tackles, Bryan Bulaga would be a major upgrade, and the Raiders would be wise to draft him.

In the later rounds, Oakland should address needs on the defensive side of the ball. The Raiders could use a speedy, physical linebacker as well as a cornerback with above average cover skills to complement one of the league’s top cornerbacks in Asomugha. Although the receiving corps was underwhelming in 2009, the Raiders should stay away from drafting a WR. The group showed occasional signs of brilliance and will be much improved in 2010 as Chaz Schillens, Johnnie Lee Higgins, and Louis Murphy gained valuable experience last season.

After years of futility, Raiders fans cling to the hope that Draft Day 2010 will turn the franchise around.