Regardless of what happens with the impending trade for Marshawn Lynch with the Seattle Seahawks, the Oakland Raiders’ draft board is set this season. Reportedly the draft pick compensation all comes in next year’s amateur player selection meeting, so I feel confident in rolling ahead with what the Raiders need to add in 2017.
Like the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders lost any momentum going into the 2016 NFL playoffs thanks to a late season quarterback injury. Derek Carr should be fine and the addition of Lynch, if he’s healthy and in shape, should be dynamic, but there are defensive holes that must be addressed on a young Raiders unit and they did nothing but really lose people in free agency.
Free agency has been a jailbreak for the Raiders as they lost six starters, all in key positions. They stopped the bleeding only somewhat, with additions at wide receiver and tight end, but this is an important draft to shore up some weaknesses and prepare the team for future playoff and Super Bowl runs.
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Round 1, Pick 24: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
2016: 35 tackles, four for a loss, 0.5 sacks, two interceptions, one defensive touchdown, one fumble recovery
The Raiders have used bad-aids at corner for too many seasons. In an AFC West that loves to attack downfield with elite wide receivers, there’s no excuse to not address this position in this draft, especially since it’s so deep at corner. The 5-11, 191 pound rookie takes over a starting spot as soon as he slides on his pads for this Raiders team after spending the last four seasons lining up against some of the best wideouts in NCAA football. White has started since week three of his freshman season and earned an All-SEC freshman team nod for his performance. He wrapped up his senior season with an All-American and All-SEC nod.
Round 2, Pick 56: Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
2016: 33 tackles, two for a loss, one sack, three interceptions, one defensive touchdown, one fumble recovery
Back to back corners? Why not. Tabor’s draft stock has taken a hit thanks to lackluster 40 times at the NFL combine and his pro day. He says he’s been dealing with a hamstring injury and that makes sense when you look at his tape. He and White are both day one starters for the Raiders, better than anyone they have on the roster right now and solidify Oakland’s corners for at least the next four seasons. While White was a freshman All-SEC pick a few years ago, Tabor was a freshman All-American and spent the last two seasons on the All-SEC team.
Round 3, Pick 88: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
2016: 103 carries, 596 yards, nine touchdowns, 40 catches, 392 yards, four touchdowns, 18 punt returns, 184 yards
Kamara is an explosive back that was under-utilized at Tennessee thanks to a shared backfield philosophy. While it kept Kamara’s numbers down, it also kept his hits to a minimum so he comes to the NFL without a lot of wear and tear on his body. Kamara can make plays as a running back, but is especially deadly as a receiver. If Lynch pans out this season, Kamara is a solid heir apparent for the starting running back position next year. Kamara should be hungry after nearly bombing out of college football with off-the-field issues before he ended up with Butch Jones and the Volunteers.
Round 4, Pick 129: Tanzel Smart, DT, Michigan
2016: 68 tackles, 19 for a loss, 5.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble
The Raiders lost defensive tackle Stacy McGee to free agency this season and have absolutely no production coming back on the interior of the defensive line. That means Smart, taken in the fourth round, will need to be an immediate starter. Luckily for the Raiders, he’s been coached up by Jim Harbaugh for the last few seasons and should be more than up to the task.
Round 5, Pick 168: J.J. Dielman, OT/Center, Utah
Dielman’s draft ranking took a hit thanks to a leg injury this season. Dielman is multi-talented as was the starting right tackle for the Utes before moving to center as a senior. The 6-5, 309-pound offensive lineman will add immediate depth across the line and an All-PAC 12 talent as a starter if called on. Dielman isn’t a second generation NFL prospect, but he does have a family history in the league. His cousin Kris was a former offensive lineman in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers from 2003-2011.
Round 6, Pick 208: Stacy Coley, WR, Miami
2016: 63 catches, 754 yards, nine touchdowns
The Raiders brought in Cordarelle Patterson to assist on a depleted wide receiver depth chart, but they can’t stop there. Coley comes in from the Miami pro style offense with a full route tree at his disposal. He’s a 6-1, 195-pound west coast prototype that averaged 12 yards per catch this season and 14.7 yards per catch last season. Coley laid down a 4.45 40-yard dash at the combine and should have no trouble finding his way onto the field as a deep threat as a rookie.
Round 7, Pick 242: Ezra Robinson, CB, Tennessee State
2016: 42 tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, five interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, 13 passes defended, one fumble recovery
Robinson has the resume you want in a mid-level FCS athlete that turns out to be an NFL prospect. He was an All-American on multiple lists as a senior and got a Senior Bowl invite. His stats, at the Division I level, would definitely warrant a higher drank ranking than the seventh round. As it is, Robinson comes into the season if this draft holds up (and it won’t) as the Raiders nickle corner. Like a lot of elite FCS athletes, Robinson began his career in the FBS, signing with Michigan State right out of high school. He was an All-Ohio Valley Conference pick last season.
Round 7, Pick 244: Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado
2016: 45 tackles, four for a loss, two sacks
Like Smart, Tupou will probably be better than anyone the Raiders currently have on the roster. He’s a three-year starter for Colorado and at 6-3, 325 pounds, can play the nose in a 4-3, eating up blocks so Smart can get free in the backfield.
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