{"id":19761,"date":"2017-04-30T12:18:07","date_gmt":"2017-04-30T16:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=19761"},"modified":"2021-03-20T15:03:18","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T19:03:18","slug":"oakland-raiders-marquel-lee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/04\/30\/oakland-raiders-marquel-lee\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland Raiders Fifth Round Draft Reaction: Marquel Lee"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the draft progresses, Ryan Smith<\/a>, Michael Larson<\/a>, and Giovanni Militano<\/a> will break down each of Oakland\u2019s picks. They will be asked if they liked the pick, if the player will make an immediate impact on the team, if there\u2019s another player they liked more, and how they\u2019d grade the selection. This is the official draft reaction page for the Raiders department of Last Word on Pro Football.<\/p>\n

Oakland Raiders Fifth Round Draft Reaction<\/strong><\/h1>\n

With the 168th Pick in the Fifth Round, the Oakland Raiders Select\u2026\u00a0Marquel Lee<\/a>, Linebacker, Wake Forest<\/h3>\n

1. Do You Like the Pick?<\/h3>\n

Smith:<\/strong>\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Larson<\/strong>: Yes<\/p>\n

Militano:<\/strong>\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Why or Why Not?<\/h3>\n

Smith<\/strong>: The Raiders need depth at linebacker, and right now the position is a mess. He’s not Jarrad Davis<\/a> or Zach Cunningham<\/a>, but he’s a thumper.<\/p>\n

Larson<\/strong>: The Raiders needed linebacker help more than anything especially at this moment in the draft. As of now, Ben Heeney<\/a><\/strong> is the Oakland Raiders starting inside linebacker, which is unacceptable.<\/p>\n

Militano<\/strong>: Marquel Lee fills a position of need. At worst, he should become a special teams contributor as a rookie. The Raiders need linebacker help.<\/p>\n

3. Will This Player Make An Immediate Impact on the Team?<\/h2>\n

Smith<\/strong>: Probably. The Raiders are so thin inside that he’ll definitely see the field at some point.<\/p>\n

Larson:\u00a0<\/strong>No.\u00a0Immediate impact? Probably not, but as of now, expect to see Lee on the field starting at the inside linebacker spot during the season sometime.<\/p>\n

Militano<\/strong>: Possibly. Oakland doesn’t have an answer in the middle but players like Ben Heeney and Cory James<\/a><\/strong> will be competing. Marquel adds depth and competition is always good.<\/p>\n

4. Is There Another Player You Wanted Instead, and If So, Who?<\/h3>\n

Smith<\/strong>: No.<\/p>\n

Larson<\/strong>: No.<\/p>\n

Militano<\/strong>: No.<\/p>\n

5. Grade<\/h3>\n

Smith<\/strong>: C+. He’s already the team’s\u00a0biggest linebacker, and with all of the defensive backs they have brought in, Oakland\u00a0needs a run stop specialist.
\nLarson<\/strong>:\u00a0B-. Marquel Lee has good size for a “Mike” at 6’3″ 240 pounds, and knows the position well. Defending the run was a struggle last year and Lee will help that if given the opportunity. He will need to improve his pass defense.<\/p>\n

Miitano: B+. Linebacker was arguably the Raiders biggest draft need. With the selection of Marquel Lee, they have selected a good player that might contribute in a big way.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n