2013 Draft Recap

[RF34]

From SI.com

Oakland Raiders
The Raiders, short a second-round pick heading into the draft, traded down from No. 3 to No. 12 and remedied that problem. They then took CB D.J. Hayden at 12 and OT Menelik Watson at 42. There are worries both spots — Hayden’s health and Watson’s inexperience. LB Sio Moore at 66 is my favorite pick of Oakland’s. Then there’s the swing for the fences in Round 4: QB Tyler Wilson, who may put the heat on Matt Flynn. All things beings equal, the Raiders did well for themselves. Except, where’s the D-line help? Oakland failed to address an awful unit until a couple of late Hail Marys. Grade: B-minus

http://nfl.si.com/2013/04/28/2013-nfl-d ... ?eref=sihp

[DeadRinger]

The Phins saved Reggie's ass from an F. No doubt about it.

[Tenebrous]

The Phins saved Reggie's ass from an F. No doubt about it.

No question about it. However, RM still gambled with the pick.

[Tenebrous]

Very disappointing draft. This was my only hope. I'm stunned at the ineptitude. Now it's across the board for Reggie.

At this point, for me, it is too early to absoluty conclude that RM had a bad draft, since he gambled so much. If anything, I am inclined to agree with you simply because his gambling, at the top end no less, seemed very unnecessary.

Also, the fact that RM locked in on Hayden is very troubling; the Raiders, with all their wholes, had the opportunity to be a able to seemingly draft the best player available and still fill a need - so why focus in on one player rather than drafting the best available player? Hayden, with his health concerns, was drafted too early - even at 12.

So while it may be too early to declare this draft class a bust, I am overall disappointed in RM (again).

It's a LOT like when Al locked in on DHB. Draft your guy no matter how much of a reach.

Difference is the media excoriated Al, and I think they're only giving Reggie a pass because of the trade. They're still bashing him with their draft grades though. I think the average of what I'm seeing is maybe C+.

In a draft where we desperately needed an A+ (because he gutted our entire team). I expected much more from Reggie.

A heart patient in the top half of the first round (SO fucking stupid), and a raw, long-term project in the 2nd. Our first 2 picks, the most important picks this team has had in years, badly misspent. And last year he spent the first pick of his professional GM career on a guy who didn't see the field and is now likely a poor fit for the team altogether.

It's strange to witness. The ONE thing this guy should have been good at, and he stinks.

Agreed, had Al Davis drafted like this, the sporting world would have been unanimous in their condemnation; fixating on a player would have been heavily criticized, as would taking so many unnecessary risks at the top end of the draft - in addition to not addressing the DT situation. Indeed many of the same fans who continue to blindly support RM would no doubt be lamenting this same draft had Davis delivered it.

As it stands, time will tell the strength of this draft - but, the unnecessary gambling can certainly be criticized for now.

In regards to DHB, while you did not suggest this, two wrongs do not make a right, so while he may have been drafted somewhat early, not even trying to re-sign him does not help his draft order in the past. RM did not even try to re-sign him and that was a mistake. He is a hard worker, positive influence in the locker-room, and can stretch the field.

[DeadRinger]

Yeah, he dumps DHB - the kind of guy he says he wants on the team - then drafts McGee - the kind of guy he said he wants no part of.

Clearly Reggie is all talk. No strength of conviction. Either that or he's just dumb. Not sure which at this point.

[Tenebrous]

Yeah, he dumps DHB - the kind of guy he says he wants on the team - then drafts McGee - the kind of guy he said he wants no part of.

Clearly Reggie is all talk. No strength of conviction. Either that or he's just dumb. Not sure which at this point.

Let's not forget RM's, 'we stayed true to the draft board throughout the draft'... followed by 'we would've taken Hayden with the 3rd overall pick.'. Either the Raiders had one messed up draft board or RM fixated on a player regardless of the draft board.

[RF34]

Ranking AFC West teams in NFL draft

By Steve Corkran
Monday, April 29th, 2013 at 2:30 pm in Oakland Raiders.

Every other team in the AFC West these days is chasing the Denver Broncos, a team many view as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
The Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers combined for an 0-6 mark against the Broncos last season, but they outdrafted the Broncos and gained some much needed confidence moving forward.
Here’s a team-by-team look at how the four AFC West teams fared, from best to worst:

1. Chargers – New general manager Tom Telesco and first-year coach Mike McCoy made a great first impression by finding sure-fire starters with their top three selections: offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, linebacker Manti Te’o and wide receiver Keenan Allen. There’s work to do yet, but the aforementioned trio qualifies as a nice start.

OT D.J. Fluker
LB Manti Te’o
WR Keenan Allen
CB Steve Williams
DE Tourek Williams
QB Brad Sorensen

2. Raiders – It’s hard to go wrong when you enter a draft with as many glaring needs as the Raiders had this year. Sure enough, the Raiders landed four players that likely will be starting by season’s end, at the latest: cornerback D.J. Hayden, offensive tackle Menelik Watson, linebacker Sio Moore and one of two tight ends selected in the sixth round. This draft class becomes one for the ages if quarterback Tyler Wilson, a fourth-round flier, develops into a long-time starter.

CB D.J. Hayden
OT Menelik Watson
LB Sio Moore
QB Tyler Wilson
TE Nick Kasa
RB Latavius Murray
TE Mychal Rivera
DT Stacy McGee
WR Brice Butler
DE Davis Bass

3. Chiefs – Finding a starting left offensive tackle makes any draft a raging success. That’s about all the Chiefs can count upon with a draft class littered with questionable selections. Tight end Travis Kelce and running back Knile Davis figure to make the roster and contribute right away.

OT Eric Fisher
TE Travis Kelce
RB Knile Davis
LB Nico Johnson
CB Sanders Commings
C Eric Kush
FB Braden Wilson
DE Mike Catapano

4. Broncos – It’s difficult to find anything to get excited about with this draft class. Williams might develop into a solid run stopper. Ball might be the lead back the Broncos desire. Dysert might be the heir apparent to Peyton Manning. So much potential, too many question marks for the Broncos to feel too good about this year’s bounty.

DT Sylvester Williams
RB Montee Ball
CB Kayvon Webster
DE Quanterus Smith
WR Tavarres King
OT Vinston Painter
QB Zac Dysert

[Tenebrous]

Here's a view of the Raiders draft from outside the bay - perhaps a little less bias?

 
BY JOHN MCMULLEN, MIAMI HERALD
1 -- D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston; 2 (42) - Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State; 3 (66) - Sio Moore, LB, UConn; 4 (112) - Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas; 6 (172) - Nick Kasa, TE, Colorado; 6 (181) - Latavius Murry, RB, Central Florida; 6 (184) - Mychal Rivera, TE, Tennessee; 6 (205) - Stacy McGee, DT, Oklahoma; 7 (209) - Brice Butler, WR, San Diego State; 7 (233) - David Bass, DE, Missouri Western

Top Pick Analysis: Reggie McKenzie came over from Green Bay before last season and is still trying to wash the Davis craziness out of the Raiders but didn't do a good job in the first round. Oakland loved Hayden so much they almost wasted the No. 3 overall pick to get him before wisely trading down and getting him at 12. They could have dropped another 10 spots at least. Things settled down from there. Second-rounder Watson is a very raw tackle prospect but has a big upside, and Moore has a nice work ethic and some coverage ability at linebacker.

Best Value Pick: Matt Flynn is probably just a caretaker so getting a legitimate developmental quarterback like Wilson with a fourth-round pick is a positive.

Questionable Calls: Even if they develop, Hayden and Moore simply weren't good value picks where they were taken.

Summary: The Raiders didn't address the defensive line after blowing things up there so that remains a concern. Hayden and Moore should help the back seven in coverage while Watson and Wilson are classic Davis-like boom-or-bust types. It's like the guy is still haunting the organization.

DRAFT GRADE: C+