Draft Review: Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raideres

1st Round, Pick #12:  DJ Hayden CB Houston
I'm a DJ Hayden fan, but the fact that the Raiders passed up Star Lotulelei here was shocking to me.  Getting a talented cornerback like Hayden is great, but he's not going to do you any good if the defensive line is terrible and isn't stopping the run or creating pressure.  Lotulelei would have been a great pick at #3, let alone #12.  If I'm building a team it starts in the trenches, but then we're talking about the Oakland Raider here.
Pick Grade:  D

2nd Round, Pick #42:  Menelik Watson OT Florida State
One of the biggest benefits of them trading down from #3 to #12 is that they were able to get back a second round pick that they had previously lost in the Carson Palmer trade.  Here the Raiders get an offensive tackle who is talented but raw.  Watson has only played two years of football in his life, but he has the size and athletic ability that is needed.  With Jared Veldheer and Khalif Barnes set at each tackle spots they don't have to rush Watson into the starting lineup and develop him into an eventual starter.
Pick Grade:  B

3rd Round, Pick #66:  Sio Moore LB UConn
A value pick here.  A strongside linebacker isn't a huge need because they just signed Nick Roach, but GM Reggie McKenzie is all about upgrading the talent level and Moore fits right in.  Moore is a good athlete and can run and tackle very well.  Add in that Sio is a good blitzer and that should be able find a role early on.  Head Coach Dennis Allen could use him similarly to what he did in Denver with Von Miller rushing from the LB position.
Pick Grade:  A 

4th Round, Pick #112:  Tyler Wilson QB Arkansas
The quarterback position is up in the air for the Raiders.  Carson Palmer is gone and Matt Flynn was brought in via a trade.  Flynn should get the nod, but Wilson will have a shot to compete.  Going into this season Wilson was thought to be a possible 1st round QB and some even thought he was the top QB in the draft.  But a coaching change really threw him off and he became very inconsistent.  But Wilson is still a very accurate passer and can make every throw.  He could be a sleeper and could become the Raiders starter in the next few years if Flynn can't get the job done.
Pick Grade:  A

6th Round, Pick #172:  Nick Kasa TE Colorado
It's safe to say that the tight end position has been void of any talent since Zach Miller left in free agency a couple of years ago.  Nick Kasa isn't going be a dynamic threat, but he does give the Raiders a good blocker who can help their run game and give them the ability to run more two tight end sets.  Kasa may not be a sexy pick, but he gives them a solid player with some flexibility.
Pick Grade: B+

6th Round, Pick #181:  Latavius Murray RB Central Florida
Oakland had a good tandem of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.  However Bush is gone and Oakland wants back that tough physical runner that he use to provide.  However Murray isn't overally talented and the Raiders would have been better off going with somebody like Andre Ellington, Rex Burkhead, or Onterio McCalebb who are all better backs.
Pick Grade:  D-

6th Round, Pick #184:  Mychal Rivera TE Tennessee
After taking a blocking tight end in Nick Kasa twelve picks earlier, the Raiders go with a good complement in Rivera.  Unlike Kasa, Rivera is a threat in the passing game and will be moved around the field to take advantage of mismatches or to give a different look.  The problem is that Rivera isn't going to give you anything in the run game and isn't an great athlete.  They better hope Rivera is a gem because relying on two 6th round picks to rejuvenate the tight end position is risky.
Pick Grade:  B

6th Round, Pick #205:  Stacy McGee DT Oklahoma
When waiting till the sixth round to fill their biggest need isn't going to solve their problems.  Especially when they could have gotten Star Lotulelei at twelve.  McGee is going to give them a big body who is going to take on blockers.  But don't look for him to apply any pressure.
Pick Grade:  C

7th Round, Pick #209:  Brice Butler WR San Diego State
Here is your typical seventh round pick.  Brice Butler may not have had a ton of production at San Diego State but he has the height/weight/speed that sparks interest in general managers and scouts.  Butler isn't a polished route runner but he does have the speed to stretch the field and could provide them with a deep threat at a minimum.  But GM Reggie McKenzie comes from the Packers who have a ton of success with late round receivers, so Butler does have that going for him.
Pick Grade:  C

7th Round, Pick #233:  David Bass DE Missouri Western
Bass could have been a higher round pick, but he struggled at the Shrine Game bringing up concerns whether he was just cleaned up on inferior competition.  However his tape was just too good to not take a risk on and using a seventh round pick isn't going to hurt them too much if he doesn't pan out.
Pick Grade:  C+

Overall Grade:  C

2013 NFL Draft: Best Available Players

Now that the first round of the NFL Draft is over and we reset for rounds two and three tonight, that gives us a chance to look at who are the best players available for the start of the second round.  Here is a look at the ten best.

1.  Zach Ertz TE Stanford
With the tight end position becoming a important part of NFL offenses, talented tight ends are going to be in demand.  Having Tyler Eifert fall to the Bengals pushed Ertz back down too.  But don't expect him to wait too long.  Former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is looking for another tight end to replace Delanie Walker who left in free agency. 

2.  Menelik Watson OT Florida State
With the run of tackles at the beginning of the draft I would have thought a player like Watson would go somewhere in the late first.  A player with his footwork, athletic ability, and size don't come into the draft very often.  But the fact that he's only played two years of football and has only played right tackle probably scared some teams off.  But he has the tools to be a left tackle and that should get him drafted somewhere in top half of the second round.

3.  Larry Warford G Kentucky
Kyle Long went #20 to the Bears and I felt that Warford was a much better prospect than Long.  Warford is a little limited because he isn't a great athlete, but he is a strong powerful run blocker that is going to open holes in the run game.  He needs to be a better pass blocker, but his size makes it difficult to get past him.  Basically he is the same type of player that Chance Warmack is, but a little less talented.  Some team is going to get a ten year starter in the second round.

4.  Jonathan Cyphrien S Florida International
We saw Matt Elam and Eric Reid go in the second half of the first round, but a player that is just as good (or better in my opinion) is Cyphrien out of Florida International.  Cyphrien is at his best in deep zone coverage or helping out in the run.  That makes him a good strong safety candidate who can also fill in at the free safety if needed.  Teams may have been scared off by some of his man struggles, but a team looking for a starting strong safety will take him early in round two.

5.  Jamar Taylor CB Boise State
Taylor's name was starting to really rise up draft boards leading up to Thursday.  However having Xavier Rhodes and Desmond Trufant fall took away some of the teams that were looking for safeties.  New England was a team that was really high on him but they moved down with an offer from Minnesota that they couldn't refuse.  But they'll still have their shot to get him.

6.  Justin Hunter WR Tennessee
My fourth rated wide receiver is Justin Hunter and he will likely be the first wide receiver taken in the second round.  He has good length, speed, and leaping ability which makes him a great deep threat.  However he probably fell out due to questions about his production this past year and injury concerns.  Any team looking for a downfield threat will be very interested in Hunter.

7.  John Jenkins DT Georgia
Not too many people might have Jenkins here, but he is a player that is going to be a good NFL defensive lineman.  Jenkins is a massive man, but he has the agility of somebody 70 pounds less than him.  Teams looking for a nose tackle are going to be very interested in him.  However Jenkins also has experience and the ability to play the 5 technique defensive end in the 3-4 and the athletic ability to play the NT in the 4-3.  San Francisco, Philadelphia, Arizona, and Tennessee could all be options.

8.  Matt Barkley QB USC
Everybody wants to talk about Geno Smith not going in the first round, but he's not even my highest rated QB available.  Barkley is a talented QB who got too much of the blame for a poor senior season which cost him a first round selection.  He doesn't have Joe Flacco's arm, but he isn't a slouch and might be the most NFL ready of any QB in this class.  Jacksonville could easily make him the first player taken in round two.

9.  Cornellius Carradine DE Florida State
If it wasn't for a late season ACL injury, Carradine could have been a top 20 pick.  Even with the injury, Carradine had been rising up boards and teams were still considering taking him in the twenties.  He has a ton of talent, but there are still questions whether he is fully recovered.  Is Carradine going to be ready for the start of the season, or is he going to have to start on the PUP list?

10.  Robert Woods WR USC
Arguably the most NFL ready receiver in the draft, Woods was a possible late first round pick.  Teams love his hands and his route running ability, but question his size and speed.  Those questions and teams passing on receivers lead to him falling into the second round.  Woods is probably best suited to play in the slot and those type of receivers don't go in round one unless you have Tavon Austin speed.

Player Profile: Menelik Watson

Menelik Watson

Height:  6'5
Weight:  310
School:  Florida State
Position:  Offensive Tackle
Rank:  #5 Offensive Tackle
Projection:  2nd Round

Strengths
-Very athletic.  Was a former college basketball player
-Does a great job getting set up in his pass pro
-Average arm length (34")
-Does a great job of locking guys down in pass protection
-Gets to the second level and does well finding and making blocks in space
-Does an excellent job of taking away pass rushers to his outside.
-Has a strong initial punch to jar back defenders
-Uses good athletic ability to slide side to side to mirror defenders
-Able to slide off double teams and move to the next level in the run game
-Always keeps his feet moving
-Good footwork.  Shows his basketball background
-Strong Work Ethic.  Strives to improve

Weaknesses
-Inexperienced and Raw.  Only 2 years of football experience.
-Looks lost at time.  Might struggle in a complex blocking scheme
-Not overly powerful.  Relies more on athletic ability and position
-Struggles to maintain blocks in the run game.  Let's guys get off him.
-Struggles with speed rush to the inside
-Was a RT only at FSU
-Plays at too high of a pad level
-Still developing a good anchor
-Gets off balance at times
-Isn't overly aggressive or possess a mean streak

Summary
Menelik Watson is a former college basketball player who came to football after watching a Florida State game and falling in love with the sport.  He didn't see much of a future as a 6'5 post player and thought that football could be the key to a better life for his family.  Watson played one season at Saddleback Community College and then this past year at Florida State.  Watson is still very raw, but flashes a lot of skill that has already impressed scouts, coaches, and general managers.  He is a good athlete and uses that in pass protection to keep defenders in front of him and off the quarterback.  He has room to improve as a run blocker but was used in pulling to get out and attack defenders in the open field.  Watson does have a lot of areas he needs to improve on, but most of those concerns are all from inexperience and adding more strength.  Because of his lack of elite strength and good athletic ability Watson might be best suited to play in a zone  blocking scheme that can highlight those strengths.  But with some good coaching he should be able to fit into any scheme.  He has the size and athletic ability to be a left tackle in the NFL.  Watson will likely go in the second round, but don't be too surprised if some team takes a chance and picks him in the late 1st round.