NFL Draft 2015: Oakland Raiders Team Needs
By Zac Snyder
The Oakland Raiders need a solid 2015 NFL Draft class if they are to restore the glory days of old. The quarterback is in place and Khalil Mack is a legitimate playmaker to give the Raiders early returns on their 2014 draft class.
To preview the team’s remaining needs and for his take on the upcoming draft from a Raiders perspective, I got together with Just Blog Baby‘s Chase Ruttig. Below are my questions with his responses.
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1. How have the team’s draft needs changed since free agency opened?
"The Raiders addressed some holes, but their biggest needs remained after free agency. Other than at center with the signing of Rodney Hudson you can say the team could still get better in every position of need even after free agency. Players like Nate Allen, Malcom Smith and Curtis Lofton are all good depth players on defense, but the sense is that the Raiders could improve further in those position groups they added in free agency by making a solid draft pick to double down."
2. What would you say are the top three needs remaining?
"1) Receiver: Not getting Randall Cobb and missing out on a trade for Brandon Marshall kept the need for a true #1 wideout in the draft for the Raiders as they need a weapon for Derek Carr to work with for a long time in Oakland.2) Defensive End: Outside linebacker Khalil Mack, Sio Moore and defensive end Justin Tuck have most of the pieces needed for a strong outside pass rush but it is just 3/4 of the puzzle for Oakland. Getting another outside pass rusher, namely a young defensive end, should be a priority in the draft. 3) Secondary: Whether it be a cornerback or a safety the Raiders need more depth in their secondary after spending most of their cap space up front with linebackers save for safety Nate Allen. Younger depth has been the direction for Reggie McKenzie in the past year in putting late round rookie TJ Carrie in the spotlight along with DJ Hayden late in 2014. Expect more draft faces to join the young core in the Raiders secondary as it is a need to get more talent in the position group."
3. Are there any prospects that have caught your eye so far?
"Amari Cooper: Obvious player to be on the Raiders board as a potential #1 target for Derek Carr. Kevin White: Battling with Cooper to be the top wideout taken in the draft and another potential option for Reggie McKenzie. Leonard Williams: Likely the only defensive player the Raiders would take over a receiver in the first round. An interior defensive lineman with the ability along with the upside to make fans feel a bit better about missing out on Ndamukong Suh. Josh Harper: A receiver outside of the first round who the team could reunite with Derek Carr out of Fresno State. Had 1000 receiving yards and 13 TD’s with Carr during his Junior season as one of the Raiders quarterback’s top targets during his 50 TD, 5,000 passing yard season with the Bulldogs before getting picked in the second round by Oakland last year."
4. What do you think would make for a successful draft for your team?
"Reggie McKenzie found a handful of starters in the 2014 Draft that likely saved his job, getting 4-5 more starters would be another success for McKenzie who needs to bring depth to the Raiders if they want to finish the rebuild in Oakland. It is a big ask, but after a decade plus of losing and on the verge of completing a long rebuild the team can’t afford to miss on many of their picks this upcoming draft."
5. So much draft focus often goes to the first few rounds, but is there something you’d like to see your team do in the later rounds?
"Additional receiving talent is key, particularly with trying to find a diamond in the rough at the tight end position. McKenzie succeeded at this in 2013 with Mychal Rivera who is currently atop the depth chart at TE. Pairing Rivera with a similarly promising tight end weapon drafted in the middle rounds could give the team the duo they seem to want at the position after targeting Jermaine Gresham during free agency before he underwent back surgery."
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Next: Post-Free Agency Frenzy 2015 NFL Mock Draft