The Oakland Raiders entered the 2015 NFL Draft picking fourth overall. Many draft experts had the Raiders taking either Amari Cooper, Kevin White, or Leonard Williams. As it turns out, all three were still available when the Raiders were on the clock.
The Raiders played it safe by choosing Cooper, who is more polished and ‘NFL ready’ than White, and more of a positional need than Williams. The Raiders insist that they just simply picked the best player available and it just happened to fit a huge need.
Here is a look at the team’s 2015 NFL Draft class.
First Round, 4th overall: Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Alabama
Second Round, 35th overall: Mario Edwards, Jr., defensive end, Florida St.
Third Round, 68th overall: Clive Walford, tight end, Miami
Fourth Round, 128th overall: Jon Feliciano, offensive guard, Miami
Fifth Round, 140th overall: Ben Heeney, linebacker, Kansas
Fifth Round, 161st overall: Neiron Ball, linebacker, Florida
Sixth Round, 179th overall: Max Valles, defensive end, Virginia
Seventh Round, 218th overall: Anthony Morris, offensive tackle, Tennessee St.
Seventh Round, 221st overall: Andre Debose, wide receiver, Florida
Seventh Round, 242nd overall: Dexter McDonald, cornerback, Kansas
Oakland Raiders 2015 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Amari Cooper
Adding playmakers to the team and surrounding quarterback Derek Carr with weapons had to be the team’s top priority entering the offseason. This mission was accomplished with the selection of Amari Cooper at number four overall. General manager Reggie McKenzie had this to say after the first round pick: “Coop [Amari Cooper] was on our board, high, from the start. It didn’t matter about the position; it was about the player. We thought we had a chance to get a really good player, and we were excited that he was there. It’s very nice when it goes hand-in-hand. When you get a chance to get a great player and he fits one of the needs. It was great when that fell in place.”
The Head-Scratcher: Ignoring Cornerback until the Seventh Round
The Raiders will enter this season with D.J. Hayden and T.J. Carrie starting at cornerback. The concerns are obvious. Hayden, entering his third season, has battled injuries throughout his young career. Carrie, entering his second year, was a seventh-round pick in last year’s draft. If either player goes down with an injury or simply underperforms, then the team will have to rely on another second-year player in fourth-round pick Keith McGill. A struggling secondary and an inconsistent pass rush could put the young Oakland defense in tough situations.
The Surprise: Mario Edwards Jr.
The Raiders certainly need a pass rusher. However, the selection of Edwards at the top of the second round had some analysts scratching their heads. Edwards battled weight issues throughout his collegiate career, leading some to question his desire to play the game at a high level. Additionally, he only amassed eight sacks during his three years in college. McKenzie analyzed the selection himself, saying “Number one, Mario’s a good football player. He’s big, strong, physical, has a good feel for the game. His deal is he can definitely play the run and he can pressure the quarterback. He’s not a speed rusher, but he is a good pass rusher.” Coach Sal Sunseri certainly had some influence with this pick, as he was the defensive line coach at Florida State and spent two years coaching Edwards.
The Steal: Clive Walford
The team again focused on giving Derek Carr more weapons to work with in the third round. There are reports that the Raiders had Walford as their top tight end in this year’s draft. McKenzie’s comments seem to confirm this. “We saw Clive as a complete tight end,” he said. “He’s not only a receiver or a blocker-only type guy. He’s a guy that’s big and strong enough to pound it versus the defensive linemen, and he can flex out and run the routes and be that pass receiver. He’s pretty much the total package when you’re looking at a complete tight end.”
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Andre Debose
Debose was once thought to be the next Percy Harvin. His measureables are similar, as he is 6’0″, 190 pounds, and runs a 4.35 40-yard dash. Debose is electric in the return game, as he scored on four kickoff returns and one punt return in college. Expect Debose to turn a lot of heads during training camp with his speed and return skills. However, injuries and his maturity led to his draft stock dropping. He asked not to play in his team’s final bowl game, so that is certainly a red flag.
The Rest
Jon Feliciano – Feliciano is a massive man, standing at 6’4″ and weighing 323 pounds. He brings a nasty, aggressive attitude and look for the fourth-round pick to push for a starting job at right guard. Offensive line coach Mike Tice loves him, saying “Our guys are going to have to be able to run. They’re going to have to be able to pull. Jon pulls well already, so that’s good. I’m excited to add him to the mix. It’s going to be good for our room. I’m very pleased with Jon. I think it’s a good pick for us.”
Ben Heeney – Linebacker Ben Heeney stands at 6’1″and weighs 231 pounds. During his senior campaign in 2014, he started all 12 games for Kansas, notching 125 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 12.0 tackles for loss.
Neiron Ball – Linebacker Neiron Ball stands at 6’2″ and weighs 232 pounds. Last year, Ball played in nine games and made seven starts before suffering a season-ending injury.
Max Valles – Defensive end Max Valles stands at 6’5″and weighs 251 pounds. He entered the draft with two years of eligibility left, so he figures to be a project that will need a few years of development before earning serious playing time.
Anthony Morris – In his senior season, Morris played in 11 games, starting 10 at tackle. He did not allow a sack in his final four collegiate games.
Dexter McDonald – The Raiders waited until the seventh round before picking a cornerback to help their questionable secondary. The 6’1″ 203-pound McDonald ran a 4.37 40-yard dash. He certainly has the size and speed that will help, but few seventh-round picks make an immediate impact.
Bottom Line
By surrounding Derek Carr with new weapons, the team improved its most important need on the field. Carr should continue to grow into a franchise quarterback and supplying him with help should continue to be the main priority. Adding Edwards and Feliciano to the mix could mean that the team will again get a few quality starters from the draft, much like they did last year when Khalil Mack, Derek Carr, Gabe Jackson, Justin Ellis, and even T.J. Carrie started for the Raiders.
My Grade: 8.5/10
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