Oakland Raiders Mock Draft: Finishing Touches

Nov 15, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Jesse James (18) runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

Mychal Rivera isn’t a good blocker and I have Julius Thomas, who’s not a great blocker on the team in free agency. Actually, Rivera doesn’t catch the ball too well either as all the drops would attest to that. So Jesse James, who’s one of those freakish height, weight and speed guys should get the call here.

James is 6’7″, 260 pounds, has bench pressed 225 27 times and been clocked at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. He can also block, has reliable routes and runs well after the catch, often dragging a pile of five. He’s a little robotic and needs to learn about route-running and fluidity but makes a great second tight end.

That height in the red-zone would be of good use along with strength to block on 3rd-and-goal-from-the-one situations. And he’ll be right here for the taking for the Raiders at the top of Round, 3. Thomas is known to get banged up here and there so James would be good to actually upgrade the run-blocking and not have too much of a drop off in the passing game.

Next: Round, 4