Draft Grades: Oakland Raiders

To say that the Oakland Raiders have fallen on hard times is putting it mildly. Since appearing in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season the Raiders have lost at least 11 games in every season. Their lack of success on the field has been reflected in a series of bad picks at the top of the NFL Draft. But in 2010 the Raiders seemed to make all the right picks and left with potentially one of the best draft classes in 2010.

The 8th overall selection was used on Rolando McClain, who was far and away the best linebacker in the draft. He should be a force in the middle of the defense for years to come. The second round selection brought Lamarr Houston, a defensive tackle from Texas.

The next two picks were used for a pair of offensive tackles that have all the physical tools and then some, but who need more experience. Jared Veldeer comes from Hillsdale college, and Bruce Campbell, the Workout Wonder from the NFL Combine, comes in with only a handful of starts at the University of Maryland. Both tackles are in the area of 6'7 and 320 pounds. If they develop then the Raiders have a pair of giant sized bookends on the offensive line.

A late round sleeper could very be an Al Davis selection special, Jacoby Ford. A receiver from Clemson, he posted the fastest 40 times at the Combine. The Raiders are hoping he can hold on to the ball, something their first round selection in 2009, Darrius Heyward-Bey, did not do much of in his rookie season.

Chad Henne's New Best Friend

The Denver Broncos finally dealt wide receiver Brandon Marshall, one day after he signed a one year tender with the club. Many people believed the destination for Marshall was going to be Seattle. But the Seahawks used the 2nd round pick in this years draft to acquire Charlie Whitehurst. Denver shopped around and found a buyer in the Miami Dolphins.

Upon hearing the news, Chad Henne must be grinning ear to ear. He now gets to throw to a receiver that is one of a handful of players who has three consecutive seasons of 100+ receptions. He now has a legitimate #1 target that he did not have last season. All of this is courtesy of a franchise that seems bent on self implosion on the offensive side of the ball.

I'm still trying to figure out how a team can trade a quarterback in Jay Cutler and a receiver in Brandon Marshall that were going to be the cornerstone of their offense for years. I can't remember any team making trades like that in recent memory. One thing the Broncos did that the Steelers did not do is get some value in a trade for a receiver. Granted, the Santonio Holmes case may have been a bit more extreme, but Denver now has three of the top 45 picks in a very deep draft.

I have had the Broncos pegged to take Dez Bryant with the #11 overall selection, mainly because of the uncertain future of Marshall with the club. Now that seems to be a certainty. They have plenty of holes on the defensive side and they should be able to shore them up with the 43rd and 45th picks.

The fact that Miami did not have to give up their first round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft makes them the winner in this trade. I have had them taking Rolando McClain with the 12th overall selection all along, and I can still see them taking the Alabama middle linebacker with that pick. Bill Parcells had great defenses with the New York Giants, and though he had Lawrence Taylor on the outside the defense was anchored in the middle by Harry Carson. I see McClain filling the same role in Miami. Now the question seems to be can Denver and Josh McDaniels handle another receiver with a new set of baggage.