Jan 16, 2015; Alameda, CA, USA; Jack Del Rio (right) shakes hands with Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie at press conference to announce his hiring as Raiders head coach at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland Raiders have drafted well for three straight years!
Raiders fans had a chance to see the 2013 and 2014 classes play well together at the end of last season. And to allow room for the 2015 class to blend in and do the same, the Raiders made cuts today. No. 1 receiver from 2014 James Jones was cut as room had to be made for first-round star Amari Cooper.
But it wasn’t just that, Rod Streater is back from a foot injury and I expect him to be on the other side of Cooper. Veteran Michael Crabtree was signed this offseason and he’ll likely be in the slot, leaving no role equal to Jones’ price tag. The Raiders also brought in “next Percy Harvin” Andre Dubose in the seventh round to take over kick return duties.
Tight end Nick Casa was also waived as complete tight end Clive Walford was picked in the third round. Walford looks like the Raiders’ starting tight end while the Raiders signed blocking tight end Lee Smith this offseason. That leaves 2014 starting tight end Mychal Rivera and Brian Leonardt fighting it out with Rivera probably winning out.
Linebackers Miles Burris, Justin Jackson and Bojay Filimoeatu where also waived today. The Raiders brought in Malcom Smith and Curits Lofton via free agency to go with Sio Moore. Then in the 2015 NFL Draft, they picked up not one, not two, but three linebackers.
Linebackers themselves when they played, G.M. Reggie McKenzie and head coach Jack Del Rio knew they needed more there. They got inside linebacker Ben Heeney, outside linebacker Neirion Ball and outside linebacker Max Valles in the draft. All these outside linebackers in free agency and the draft tells me Khalil Mack is moving to the hybrid Leo position.
Del Rio said on NFL Network’s Path to the Draft that the Raiders may have four starters out of the draft. So that includes nasty boy Jon Feliciano, who was picked in the fourth round while Kevin Boothe was waived to make room for him. The only thing there is veteran Khalif Barnes isn’t going to make it easy just like he didn’t for Gabe Jackson.
Cornerback Jansen Watson was also waived today to make room for seventh-round pick Dexter McDonald. Defensive tackle Kona Scwhenke was waive today to make room in the defensive line room for second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr. The Raiders plan on using the 6’3″, 280-pounder at defensive end so what does that mean for Justin Tuck?
The 2015 NFL Draft looks like it may be the final part of overhauling the bad part of the football team.
The Raiders are on their way.