I believe Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie when he says that the team would take the best available player in the draft. If anything, this draft class serves to highlight that the word “best” is extremely subjective.
Throughout the draft, the “best player available” was consistently a player that needed an upgrade at starter or had the skill set to stand out on special teams. This was not a coincidence.
With the fourth overall pick the Raiders selected WR Amari Cooper who, while considered one of the best players in the draft, also fit a huge need for a team that has lacked a #1 WR since at least Randy Moss left them after the 2006-07 season.
In the second round the team selected defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. Defensive end is, of course, another position needing an upgrade at starter and again, this is not a coincidence.
In the third round the Raiders upgraded their tight end corps by taking the best all-around tight end in the draft class, Clive Walford out of Miami. The Raiders had talked about upgrading their tight end corps earlier this offseason and had flirted with signing Jermain Gresham in free agency before a medical check found a back issue that required immediate surgery. No coincidence.
In the fourth? Guard Jon Feliciano, who the team has confirmed will be in the competition mix at the right guard position that is currently unclaimed. The Raiders need a starter at guard and drafted a guard. Coincidence? I think not.
Having addressed most of the immediate positional needs, the team then turned their attention to a unit that has been one of the worst in the league in recent years: Special Teams.
In the fifth round, the team took a pair of linebackers in Ben Heeney and Neiron Ball. Neither of these players is likely to push for starting time at linebacker, immediately, but both would be pegged as core special teams players as both have good speed and are instinctual football players. Heeney also blocked several field goal kicks when at Kansas and can contribute as an outside rusher on field goals and PAT attempts.
In the sixth, the Raiders took Max Valles, who primarily played linebacker in college but who the Raiders are looking to convert to defensive end and rotate in as a pass rushing specialist in the NFL. Like Heeney and Ball, Valles will likely be a core special teams player who can also work to develop and later push for playing time.
The special teams theme continued in the seventh round where the Raiders took Andre Debose. While listed as a wide receiver, Debose had only 1 reception in all of 2014. Debose was drafted for his skills as a returner – an area of weakness for the Raiders, recently. He is a somewhat experienced returner, having returned 23 punts and 21 kickoffs including one punt return for a TD for the University of Florida in 2014.
Finally, the team drafted CB Dexter McDonald, a physically imposing CB with good speed who can also be a special teams core player, and OT Anthony Morris who has good height and athleticism but could use some weight room work to bulk up. Morris isn’t as likely to play on coverage teams but if he makes the team, it’s likely he would be involved on field goal and PAT units as a blocker.
Looking over the draft class, it’s conceivable that the first four picks could be day 1 starters with the remaining six draftees contributing right away as the core of a young and fast special teams unit.
It’s clear that the team put a high value on what needs they had when they were grading the players and putting together their board. Their “best available” tended to fit with the teams’ needs, too.
It’s also clear that the team puts a high value on versatility in their players. This makes sense in today’s NFL, when injuries can mount up and choke a team that lacks depth at a particular position.
To wit: Amari Cooper was by far the most versatile wide receiver in the 2015 draft. While he arguably didn’t have the same upside as Kevin White, he lined up all over the field for Alabama and ran every kind of route with great success. He is not locked into having to learn one side versus another.
Mario Edwards Jr seems a stretch to take so high, to me, but he fits the mold of a versatile defensive lineman having seen time in college at defensive end and sliding in to play some defensive tackle, especially on likely passing downs. It seems quite likely that the Raiders would use him the same way athat he was used at FLU, making him a defensive end on run-likely downs and moving him to the interior on pass-heavy downs.
Third round selection Clive Walford didn’t have the same fanfare as pass catching tight end Maxx Williams but he is a much more accomplished blocker, having spent a good amount of time doing that at Miami. He also has sufficient speed and hands to be a threat in the passing game, especially if the defense assigns a linebacker or defensive end to him.
This versatility at tight end is something the Raiders have been looking for and currently lack on their team with Mychal Rivera a good option in the passing game but lacking as a blocker and new signee Lee Smith the opposite.
The Raiders went for versatility again with fourth round selection Jon Feliciano who has played at all positions along the offensive line. While his best fit is likely guard, he has the ability to slide both inside to center or, in a pinch, outside to tackle. Again, his versatility appears to be key to his signing.
The Raiders hope to have found pieces that improve their team both in the short and long term and there is reason to believe that they have, at least in the early rounds. Presumably they stuck to their board but they appear to have configured that board based in part on the needs of their team and the versatility of the players available.
This may or may not be the best strategy as the Raiders did appear to pass over some better talent on the board at different spots. If the team hits on their early picks, however, this draft could be a big boon for a franchise that really needs playmakers.
Only time will tell – I’ll see you in three years.
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