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Reggie McKenzie Likes Fresh Start for D.J. Hayden

By Carl Cockerham

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) looks on from the field during the second quarter of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Oakland won 37-29. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) looks on from the field during the second quarter of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Oakland won 37-29. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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CB D.J. Hayden never did reach the expectations of his 2013 first-round draft status. Perhaps a fresh start with another team will help him get there.

Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie has drafted very well from 2014 until now. There is not one player from his first two drafts in 2012 and 2013 left on the roster. And that includes 2013 first-round pick D.J. Hayden, McKenzie’s first first-round pick.

He just never seemed to be able to stay healthy enough to try to get the hang of NFL football. All this while being under a tremendous amount of pressure to live up to his draft status. When such a situations is created, perhaps a fresh start with another team is necessary.

Hayden is poised to get that fresh start in 2017 as he signed with the Detroit Lions in free agency. He will have no pressure in Detroit as the Lions weren’t the team that picked him in the first round. His signing with the team didn’t even make a lot of noise in the city of Detroit.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie still believes a the fresh start will do Hayden  some good. He also believes he pressure, complications from his near-death experience in college and injuries affected Hayden’s confidence. And he feels like Hayden can get that back in Detroit.

He told the Detroit Free Press:

"“He was always playing behind the 8-ball from a physical standpoint. “So if he gets that behind him, his confidence will grow. And that’s what he needed. Confidence. He never, I think in his whole time in Oakland, the confidence for him to really thrive was not where it needed to be.”"

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