2014 Oakland Raiders Draft Selections:
1st Round, 5th Overall – Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo (10.3)
2nd Round, 36th Overall – Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State (9.0)
3rd Round, 81st Overall – Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State (8.8)
4th Round, 107rd Overall – Justin Ellis, DT, Louisiana Tech (7.7)
4th Round, 116th Overall – Keith McGill, CB, Utah (7.3)
7th Round, 219th Overall – Travis Carrie, CB, Ohio (8.0)
7th Round, 235th Overall – Shelby Harris, DE, Illinois State (5.8)
7th Round, 247th Overall – Jonathan Dowling, FS, Western Kentucky (6.8)
Overall Grade: 9.5/10
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2014 Oakland Raiders Draft: First Great Draft for the Raiders in Over a Decade
It’s been a long time since the Oakland Raiders have had a draft that pulled the kind of talent that Reggie McKenzie and company did this year. Since Al Davis drafted Nnamdi Asomugha in 2003, and even some years before that, no player matches the level of talent and potential production that first round selection Khalil Mack brings to the table. While the Raiders’ 2010 draft produced talented players the likes of Rolando McClain (retired), Jared Veldheer (Cardinals), Lamarr Houston (Bears), and Stevie Brown (Giants), none of those players are currently on the team anymore. However, this year’s haul should produce at least four long-term starters that the team can keep under contract.
Rated as my number two overall prospect in this draft, the Raiders were able to sit and wait for Khalil Mack to fall to them at number five. Mack possesses an outstanding blend of power and athleticism, making him a capable run stopper, pass rusher, and coverage linebacker. While he may need a little time to adapt to the speed of the NFL after playing in the MAC for four years, he managed to shine against BCS programs such as Ohio State throughout his career. In fact, of the Raiders eight picks in this year’s draft only two are from BCS conference teams.Mack showed a knack for forcing fumbles at Buffalo, racking up 16 during his career, and could make a name for himself in that area during his NFL tenure. Mack can play either as a defensive end or linebacker, and Head Coach Dennis Allen could look to take advantage of that versatility.
A polarizing player, as some viewed him as the top QB in the draft, while others viewed him as a mid-round selection at best, Derek Carr provides the Raiders with another good value pick. After trading for Matt Schaub and trading away Terrelle Pryor, Carr should be able to sit and watch for a season (or maybe a few games) as he acclimates to the pros. While he ran a pro-style offense under Pat Hill early in his college career, Carr shined under Tim DeRuyter’s simplified college spread, and will need to adjust to a more complex offense against a much higher level of competition.
One of the two players who played against top competition in college, Gabe Jackson is a very capable guard who can come in and push Tony Bergstrom or Kevin Boothe for a starting job immediately. Jackson is one of the strongest interior players in this year’s draft and while he lacks much athleticism, he could make an impact as a man-on-man run blocker.
In round four, the Raiders were also able to select two players who have the look of capable role players on defense, Justin Ellis and Keith McGill. While Ellis is a wide and squatty defensive tackle, he plays with a better motor and stamina than expected from a player his size and is a better athlete than his frame would suggest. McGill is oversized for his position as well, given that he is a 6’3” 214 lb. converted wide receiver. Following the trend of bigger corners in the NFL, the Raiders have a potential press-zone who can play on the boundary in nickel and dime situations.
The Raiders drafted another corner in round seven, Travis Carrie, who I viewed as a sleeper in this year’s class. Carrie is a physical and big-framed corner who possesses good long speed and solid football character. However, he will be a 25-year-old rookie which limits his potential, but could become a solid free safety-corner type who can quietly make an impact.
The Raiders rounded out the seventh round with a pair of risks on players who have glaring character concerns. Shelby Harris out of Illinois State dismissed from the team last season, and was also dismissed from Wisconsin his freshman season. While he has a large frame, his character and athletic talent leave a lot to be desired. While safety-corner Jonathan Dowling does intrigue as an athlete, his work ethic, toughness, and football character are all incredibly poor. He has plenty of potential, but if he doesn’t realize he has work to put in, his career might not last beyond this season.
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