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With the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror we take the Oakland Raiders "Off The Clock" with pick-by-pick analysis, the Bible's take and our grade.
 (1-7) Darius Heyward-Bey, WR (Maryland): Raiders owner Al Davis is always good for a surprise and the selection of Bey was the second stunner in the top 10. With much depth at the wide receiver position, it is likely that Oakland could have addressed this need with their second-round pick. Nevertheless, the Raiders were in dire need of help at the wide out position and DHB will certainly catapult to the top of the list of JaMarcus Russell’s favorite targets. The Silver and Black have now used their last three first-round picks on offense (Russell & Darren McFadden).
(2-47) Michael Mitchell, S (Ohio): The Raiders made yet another dubious selection by reaching for yet another physical specimen. This pick was surprising because Mitchell wasn’t very productive in college, despite playing against a lower level of competition. The Ohio product is known to have impressive ball skills. Look at it this way—he can’t be a bigger disappointment than Michael Huff. (Pick From San Diego via New England)
(3-71) Matt Shaughnessy, DE (Wisconsin): The Wisconsin defensive end is tough and a decent pass rusher, but one has to ask...why not go with someone like Lawrence Sidbury out of Richmond? The Raiders always seem to have the need for speed and Sidbury was out there as a potential pass-rushing demon. Instead they went with Shaughnessy, who is a bit undersized as a down lineman, which is why we thought he might go to 3-4 team as an outside linebacker. Shaughnessy could develop into a solid rotation player, but nothing more.
 (4-124) Louis Murphy, WR (Florida): Murphy, of course, has good speed (otherwise the Raiders wouldn’t have drafted him). He is a good route runner and could develop into a big play threat for JaMarcus Russell. Murphy does most of his work and outside the hash marks, which makes one wonder if Russell will ever be asked to throw the ball across the middle of the field. This was a nice value pick in the fourth round. (Pick From New England)
(4-126) Slade Norris, DE (Oregon State): Norris is fast (go figure). He does well making plays side to side, but is not big enough to handle blockers in the NFL. The Raiders once again reached here and landed a special teams player. Like Shaughnessy, many viewed Norris as a player who would be best served switching to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, but who are we to question the Raiders? (Pick From Miami)
(6-199) Stryker Sulak, DE (Missouri): Yet another hybrid player, Sulak could still move to outside linebacker and provide a good speed rush from the outside. However, he is probably a year or two away from really being able to contribute. This wasn’t bad value in the sixth round but like others before him, Sulak would be better served going to a 3-4 scheme. (Pick From New England)
(6-202) Brandon Myers, TE (Iowa): Believe it or not, Myers is not very fast. In fact, he is known as a blocking tight end. He is a good run blocker and could end up being a nice addition for the Raiders’ tough run offense. (Pick From Carolina)
Team Needs: WR, DT, S, OT, C
Needs Filled: Two of five.
The Bible’s Take: If Usain Bolt would have entered the NFL draft, the Raiders probably would have traded up to number one overall to take him. Al Davis’s obsession with speed has become laughable as the team passed on more talented players time and time again in the 2009 draft. Heyward-Bey is a good player with a lot of talent, but JaMarcus Russell would have benefited more from Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin on the outside, or even B.J. Raji to fortify the defense. The rest of the team’s draft was not much better. The Raiders may have landed some starters but the team will definitely be picking in the top-10 again next year…and the year after that.
Grade: D+
Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, College Press Box (Maryland)
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