There is going to be some fallout after the draft. I would think some cuts will happen around the league.
The Official Oakland Raiders Offseason thread
- Thread starter 2Quik4UHoes
- Start date
Is there something I'm missing on why so many muthafukking safeties and no fukking LBs like wtf
OVERVIEW
Hood was a man among boys as a high school running back in Charlotte, running for over 3,000 yards in both his junior and senior seasons. He graduated early to join the Tar Heels for spring practice in 2014, which resulted in his being able to contribute in his freshman year (67-259, four TDs) despite missing four games due to injury. Healthy in 2015, Hood ran roughshod over ACC competition, garnering second-team all-conference honors by racking up 1,463 yards and scoring 17 times on just 219 carries. He started 11 games in his junior year, garnering third-team All-ACC recognition, even though his carries were down (145-858s, eight TD; 25-142 receiving) as he shared them with T.J. Logan. He also missed two games, including the Sun Bowl, due to undisclosed medical reasons. Originally, Hood planned on returning to Chapel Hill for his senior year, but he reversed course closer to the declaration deadline.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Big and powerful with well-muscled build and huge traps. Decisive runner who lacks speed, but can get into his top gear early in his rep. Instinctive and will accelerates through contact with pretty good contact balance to keep runs alive. Shows ability to slash through arm tackles and is always looking to fall forward. Drives his feet through tackle attempts and is credited with 28 broken tackles over his last two seasons. Used in pass protection and as a lead blocker at times in Tar Heels running game. Throws an effective cut block in space. In pass pro, launches his weight into pass rushers and gives them something to think about. Functional pass catcher with above average hands and an ability to dig out the low throws.
WEAKNESSES
Lacks speed to live a life other than that of a grinder. Will be unable to get around the edge on a consistent basis against NFL linebackers. Slow to gather, cut and get back into the flow of the run. Early traffic in the backfield is his nemesis. Lacks the agility and elusiveness to be a creative back on the first and second levels. Needs a point of entry to be effective. Hammerhead style won't allow him to get skinny and bleed through the creases. Lacks subtle shifts to convert downhill, short yardage attempts.
DRAFT PROJECTION
PFA
SOURCES TELL US
"Not sure why he changed his mind and decided to come out, but I think he is who he is and it doesn't really matter how much more college football he plays. We like more dynamic runners but he might find some work as a short-yardage specialist." - NFC national scout
BOTTOM LINE
Downhill runner who lacks desired elusiveness, lateral quickness and speed, but does have the overall power to create for himself. Hood is a banger who will only be a fit for certain systems, but he does have the toughness to handle pass protection duties. Hood's ability to block in the open field could open a door for him as a roster-friendly fullback with third or fourth running ability.
OVERVIEW
After a junior year where he failed to make an all-conference squad for the first time in his career (34 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks), Hester decided to lose 20 pounds to regain some quickness. The result was an excellent senior campaign (39 tackles, eight for loss, team-leading five sacks) that landed him on the all-MAC second team as voted on by league coaches. Hester's redshirt freshman season got him third-team all-conference notice, as he started nine games, made 39 stops, 7.5 behind the line, and 3.5 sacks. He then earned second-team All-MAC honors as a sophomore with career highs in tackles (49), tackles for loss (9.5) and quarterback pressures (10).
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Has decent power at the point of attack. Fairly athletic. Shows an ability to shed quickly to make tackles. Good reactive quickness allows for sudden shifts to make tackles against running backs trying to dart through gaps nearby. Highly instinctive. Keys on his man pulling and will work around the down-block coming his way to scrape and follow the play. Initial quickness laterally is solid. Effective arm over frees him from a block on his edge. Has very active hands as a rusher. Swipes and chops consistently at blocker's punch to try and keep himself clean. Able to maneuver around pass blocks if he gets an early advantage.
WEAKNESSES
Plays too straight-legged. Base is often way too narrow in his operation. Plays with inconsistent pad level. Shows issues with contact balance when he's playing too tall. Inconsistent get-off into the neutral zone. Will drop head into his initial contact and lose sight of the ball at times. Motor will fizzle out the longer a rep lasts. Pursuit effort can run hot and cold. Effort rusher who may not have the skill level to play on pass downs.
BOTTOM LINE
Three-technique with good size and quickness, Hester plays with active hands and he has a shot to become a disruptive, rotational defensive tackle if he can continue to improve at the point of attack.
LastKING_BLU
last king killing ****
so one linebacker and 2 dt's, but no pass rusher 
On Jylan Ware:
A three-year starter, Ware has shorter arms for an offensive tackle, and there are concerns about the level of competition he faced in college. But he has the athletic ability and size to transition inside and provide depth at guard. -- Steve Muench
On Elijah Hood:
Hood is a physical and powerful runner who churns out yards between the tackles and can add depth as a short-yardage back. He's not as quick on tape as his testing would suggest, and he put the ball on the ground too much at North Carolina. -- Steve Muench
On Treyvon Hester:
Hester is a disruptive 3-technique with the potential to develop into an effective backup in an aggressive base four-man front. He could turn into a good value pick if he can overcome some durability concerns. -- Kevin Weidl
A three-year starter, Ware has shorter arms for an offensive tackle, and there are concerns about the level of competition he faced in college. But he has the athletic ability and size to transition inside and provide depth at guard. -- Steve Muench
On Elijah Hood:
Hood is a physical and powerful runner who churns out yards between the tackles and can add depth as a short-yardage back. He's not as quick on tape as his testing would suggest, and he put the ball on the ground too much at North Carolina. -- Steve Muench
On Treyvon Hester:
Hester is a disruptive 3-technique with the potential to develop into an effective backup in an aggressive base four-man front. He could turn into a good value pick if he can overcome some durability concerns. -- Kevin Weidl
Hood looks like he could be our short yardage guy.
Is there something I'm missing on why so many muthafukking safeties and no fukking LBs like wtf
Either @Skooby is right and there are some upcoming cuts we don't know about or Reggie is as dense as I thought he was. I mean Jesus, this offseason was a fukkin alley oop we could've addressed everything in one go but now we've got a HUGE hole left at ILB and we have hardly any presence in the front 7 to speak off. I bet Mark doesn't want Mack excelling with a great supporting cast because it would mean more money owed.
Like Jaye Howard.. a player we desperately need
Like Jaye Howard.. a player we desperately need
We need him? Guess we won't get him then. What spots are we overloaded at? I'm sure we need more O-Linemen, I mean we have a million of them already but we can never be too sure.
Raiders draft pick David Sharpe: 'I'm not blind'
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- David Sharpe, the Oakland Raiders’ fourth-round draft pick out of Florida, again denied reports about the vision in his right eye.
“I’m not blind,” Sharpe said on a conference call with reporters after the Raiders selected him with the 129th overall selection. “I’m not legally blind. The information is false. All of it is false. I just had a little cataract removal when I was younger and I’ve been battling that since I was young. But it doesn’t affect my play or vision or anything.
“I’m not blind.”
So there.
“It doesn’t really make me mad,” Sharpe added. “I just brush it off. It was just false, and I addressed it.”
Sharpe did acknowledge, though, that the vision in his right eye is “a little blurrier” than in his left eye, but he said it does not affect him on the field.
The 6-foot-6, 357-pound left tackle protected the blind side of Raiders coach Jack Del Rio’s son Luke at Florida, and the Gators quarterback gave Sharpe a hint that a call from Oakland may be coming.
“It’s actually crazy, man,” Sharpe said. “It’s a great offense, everything. He actually texted me this morning and said his dad called him and asked about me/ ... So that was cool.”
Sharpe started 13 of 14 games as a sophomore and all 13 games as a junior last season. With the Raiders offensive line already a team strength, perhaps Sharpe, who said he can play either tackle position, will be moved inside to guard down the road. As in when All-Pro left guard Kelechi Osemele replaces Donald Penn at left tackle in a year or two and Gabe Jackson moves back to the left side?
“I didn’t talk to [the Raiders] much at all, actually, but I did at the combine,” Sharpe said. “I had a formal interview with them and things like that, but other than that I didn’t talk to them much.”
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- David Sharpe, the Oakland Raiders’ fourth-round draft pick out of Florida, again denied reports about the vision in his right eye.
“I’m not blind,” Sharpe said on a conference call with reporters after the Raiders selected him with the 129th overall selection. “I’m not legally blind. The information is false. All of it is false. I just had a little cataract removal when I was younger and I’ve been battling that since I was young. But it doesn’t affect my play or vision or anything.
“I’m not blind.”
So there.
“It doesn’t really make me mad,” Sharpe added. “I just brush it off. It was just false, and I addressed it.”
Sharpe did acknowledge, though, that the vision in his right eye is “a little blurrier” than in his left eye, but he said it does not affect him on the field.
The 6-foot-6, 357-pound left tackle protected the blind side of Raiders coach Jack Del Rio’s son Luke at Florida, and the Gators quarterback gave Sharpe a hint that a call from Oakland may be coming.
“It’s actually crazy, man,” Sharpe said. “It’s a great offense, everything. He actually texted me this morning and said his dad called him and asked about me/ ... So that was cool.”
Sharpe started 13 of 14 games as a sophomore and all 13 games as a junior last season. With the Raiders offensive line already a team strength, perhaps Sharpe, who said he can play either tackle position, will be moved inside to guard down the road. As in when All-Pro left guard Kelechi Osemele replaces Donald Penn at left tackle in a year or two and Gabe Jackson moves back to the left side?
“I didn’t talk to [the Raiders] much at all, actually, but I did at the combine,” Sharpe said. “I had a formal interview with them and things like that, but other than that I didn’t talk to them much.”
Say brehs, normally I hate the idea of trading draft picks but yall think we should send next years 1st and another pick to Seattle for Sherman? I mean, Reggie is clearly allergic to this shyt so why not get rid of the picks and at least get a leader for this new young secondary? 
Oakland Raiders' 2017 draft picks: Analysis for every selection
Round 1, No. 24 overall: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
My take: The Raiders stunned the NFL by taking Conley, whose stock fell this week in the wake of being accused of rape. Conley insists he is innocent of the accusation, and the Raiders believe him. The Raiders taking Conley, who said he's scheduled to meet with police Monday and might not be charged, signals a confidence in Oakland, which 23 other teams did not exhibit. A gamble? An unseemly selection? Not from the Raiders' perspective. Not when they believe they got a steal in Conley. After all, as a player, Conley fills a specific need. Plus, as Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie put it, the bonus was that Conley was the best player on their draft board when their turn came up.
Where does he fit? The Raiders spent a lot of money last offseason on cornerbacks Sean Smith and David Amerson and still had just the 24th-ranked passing defense in the league while allowing a league-high 61 completions for gains of at least 20 yards. McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio gushed over Conley, calling it a "happy moment" for the team and Conley a "quality kid" without committing the first-rounder to either the slot or outside. Conley, meanwhile, said he started playing the nickel last year and was comfortable there as well as on the island. "He's the type of corner you look for," McKenzie said. "It's hard to get separation from him. He can play the deep ball. He can play press. He's big. He's strong. He's fast. And he understands the game, and you can tell he loves the game by the way he plays."
Didn't the Raiders need an ILB or DT first? McKenzie said the board fell this way, that Conley was the best player available and, after doing "miles and miles" of research on Conley, believes the accusations will be proven false. So even if an inside linebacker (Reuben Foster?) or defensive tackle (Malik McDowell?) may have been a bigger need, Conley being the best player on the Raiders' board trumped the so-called needs. He had eight pass breakups at Ohio State and four interceptions. Oakland has now drafted eight defensive backs in the first round since 2000, three more than any other team. The Raiders have now also taken a DB in the first round in consecutive years three times since then. More history? Conley is the third Ohio State DB taken in the first round, joining Jack Tatum in 1971 and Neal Colzie in 1975.
Round 2, No. 56: Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
My take: The Raiders used a first-round pick just last year on a strong safety in Karl Joseph, who made several all-rookie teams, and free safety Reggie Nelson went to the Pro Bowl after leading Oakland with five interceptions. So why would Oakland use another high pick on another safety, especially one as raw as Obi Melifonwu? Simple: depth. Joseph is undersized for how hard he hits and Nelson turns 34 in September. Besides, despite going 12-4 last season, Oakland had only the 24th-ranked passing defense in the NFL. After addressing the cornerback situation by taking Conley in the first round, the selection of Melifonwu shows the Raiders -- who had the fewest sacks in the league with 25 -- are addressing the pass rush by solidifying coverage. As Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack says, “pass rush and coverage work hand-in-hand.” Meaning Mack should get a coverage sack or two with an improved secondary, right?
How he fits: The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Melifonwu has been described as a genetic freak; he ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, registered a 44-inch vertical leap and went nearly 12 feet in the broad jump. The Raiders are betting he is more than a workout warrior. He did, after all, have eight interceptions in four seasons at UConn, with four picks and 118 tackles as a senior, but it’s hard to see him beating out either Joseph or Nelson. Rather, as a rookie, expect him to learn at Nelson's knee and get lots of special-teams run. And if his coverage is up to par, Melifonwu could perhaps pick up some tight-end coverage, particularly in the AFC West.
Round 3, No. 88: Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA
My take: The Raiders had a league-low 25 sacks last season, with three coming from the interior of the defensive line. And the two players responsible for those sacks -- Stacy McGee and Dan Williams -- are no longer on Oakland’s roster. Vanderdoes does not necessarily address a pass-rushing need in the middle; he had four career sacks at UCLA and missed nearly all of the 2015 season with a torn ACL. But he could be more athletic than Williams and occupy space and blockers; if Darius Latham and Justin Ellis improve their push, that would free up the likes of Mack and Bruce Irvin on the edges. Vanderdoes was a prime prospect before his injury, and while he seemed slower after the rehab last fall, he did have a strong showing at the Senior Bowl to raise his stock again. Bottom line: The Raiders need to be more athletic down low, and Vanderdoes addresses that need.
How he fits: The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Vanderdoes ran a 4.99-second 40-yard dash, broke off 28 reps in the 225-pound press and had a 28½-inch vertical jump. So as far as defensive tackles go, yeah, he’s athletic, maybe more athletic than the departed duo of McGee and Williams. And that’s how he fits ... so long as he’s healthy and his knee issue is a thing of the past. Vanderdoes, who had 126 career tackles with 13.5 for a loss, needs to occupy blockers, force double-teams and stay fresh. He does that and the Raiders might have found a gem. If not, the Raiders still need a big body down low.
What's next: The Raiders have five selections remaining on Day 3 (Nos. 129, 168, 208, 242 and 244), including two in the seventh round. They still have needs at inside linebacker and, yes, defensive tackle.
Round 4, No. 129: David Sharpe, OL, Florida
My take: According to the NFL Network, Sharpe is “almost blind” in his right eye -- something Sharpe denies -- and is sometimes “late off the ball.” That would mean he would primarily be a left tackle and learn the craft at the NFL level under Donald Penn, who will be 34 years old. The Raiders offensive line is already a team strength, so Sharpe might have a steep climb just dressing on game days, let alone competing for quality snaps.
How he fits: Not the most gleaming of scouting reports, right, especially because he reportedly compares to Raiders offensive lineman Vadal Alexander? Still, he protected Luke Del Rio’s backside at Florida, so you know Raiders coach Jack Del Rio received an in-depth scouting report from his son on the 6-foot-6, 357-pound Sharpe. A huge man, Sharpe would provide depth, compete for an extra offensive lineman spot on game days and could see time on special teams.
Round 5, No. 168: Marquel Lee, LB, Wake Forest
My take: Finally, the Raiders addressed their glaring hole at inside/middle linebacker with the selection of Lee. Does that mean he will step in as the Day 1 starter? Hardly, but Oakland needs depth there, with Ben Heeney and Cory James the lone Raiders on the roster with “pure” inside linebacker experience. The Raiders need numbers, and Lee had production last fall for the Demon Deacons, with 7.5 sacks and 105 tackles, 20 for a loss.
How he fits: GM Reggie McKenzie wants a “cerebral” playmaker in the middle of the field, and while Lee does make plays, it’s hard to imagine a fifth-round rookie stepping in immediately and becoming a starter. Rather, it’s easier to envision the Raiders re-signing Perry Riley Jr. and having Lee get his snaps on special teams and learning the position going forward. After all, not only was McKenzie an inside linebacker, so were coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
Round 7, No. 221: Shalom Luani, S, Washington State
My take: The Raiders, as noted time and again, had just the 24th-ranked pass defense in the NFL despite strong safety Karl Joseph being named to several all-rookie teams and free safety Reggie Nelson going to the Pro Bowl. Oakland needs depth and Luani provides it, even if he may be seen as a ball hawk -- eight interceptions the past two years -- with poor tackling skills.
How he fits: Depth. Depth. Depth. Luani provides it, as well as a nose for the ball, as evidenced by his eight picks in the Palouse. But with his tackling being an issue, the former soccer player -- he scored for American Samoa in its first FIFA-sanctioned win over Tonga in 2011 -- will need some seasoning.
Round 7, No. 231: Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State
My take: The Raiders offensive line is a team strength, with three Pro Bowlers, a free-agent signee and the top eight O-linemen already essentially locked in. Plus, they used a fourth-round draft pick on David Sharpe from Florida. So why would the Raiders use a seventh-round selection on an unknown commodity like Jylan Ware? Depth at best; camp body at worst.
How he fits: Not sure, exactly. Perhaps to sharpen the other Raiders offensive linemen in camp? It’s hard to see the 6-foot-8, 295-pound Ware making the team as it is currently constructed, let alone dressing on Sundays. He is a large man, though, so perhaps he fits in any place he pleases?
Round 7, No. 242:Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina
My take: The Raiders needed to draft a running back, yes, even after acquiring Marshawn Lynch on Wednesday. Lynch probably isn’t playing more than two years, and Hood’s running style seems similar to that of Lynch, even if Lynch is unique. Hood ran for 1,463 yards as a sophomore with 17 TDs but fell to 858 yards and 8 TDs last fall. His skill set as a power back is different than those of DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, which is a positive.
How he fits: Too soon to say he's the heir apparent to Lynch? Yes. But Hood said he models his hard-running style after that of Lynch. "That's Beast Mode," Hood said. "I'm shedding tears right now." The Raiders want the 6-foot, 230-pounder to slim down a bit to work to his elusiveness, lest he find himself being groomed as a fullback.
Round 1, No. 24 overall: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
My take: The Raiders stunned the NFL by taking Conley, whose stock fell this week in the wake of being accused of rape. Conley insists he is innocent of the accusation, and the Raiders believe him. The Raiders taking Conley, who said he's scheduled to meet with police Monday and might not be charged, signals a confidence in Oakland, which 23 other teams did not exhibit. A gamble? An unseemly selection? Not from the Raiders' perspective. Not when they believe they got a steal in Conley. After all, as a player, Conley fills a specific need. Plus, as Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie put it, the bonus was that Conley was the best player on their draft board when their turn came up.
Where does he fit? The Raiders spent a lot of money last offseason on cornerbacks Sean Smith and David Amerson and still had just the 24th-ranked passing defense in the league while allowing a league-high 61 completions for gains of at least 20 yards. McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio gushed over Conley, calling it a "happy moment" for the team and Conley a "quality kid" without committing the first-rounder to either the slot or outside. Conley, meanwhile, said he started playing the nickel last year and was comfortable there as well as on the island. "He's the type of corner you look for," McKenzie said. "It's hard to get separation from him. He can play the deep ball. He can play press. He's big. He's strong. He's fast. And he understands the game, and you can tell he loves the game by the way he plays."
Didn't the Raiders need an ILB or DT first? McKenzie said the board fell this way, that Conley was the best player available and, after doing "miles and miles" of research on Conley, believes the accusations will be proven false. So even if an inside linebacker (Reuben Foster?) or defensive tackle (Malik McDowell?) may have been a bigger need, Conley being the best player on the Raiders' board trumped the so-called needs. He had eight pass breakups at Ohio State and four interceptions. Oakland has now drafted eight defensive backs in the first round since 2000, three more than any other team. The Raiders have now also taken a DB in the first round in consecutive years three times since then. More history? Conley is the third Ohio State DB taken in the first round, joining Jack Tatum in 1971 and Neal Colzie in 1975.
Round 2, No. 56: Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
My take: The Raiders used a first-round pick just last year on a strong safety in Karl Joseph, who made several all-rookie teams, and free safety Reggie Nelson went to the Pro Bowl after leading Oakland with five interceptions. So why would Oakland use another high pick on another safety, especially one as raw as Obi Melifonwu? Simple: depth. Joseph is undersized for how hard he hits and Nelson turns 34 in September. Besides, despite going 12-4 last season, Oakland had only the 24th-ranked passing defense in the NFL. After addressing the cornerback situation by taking Conley in the first round, the selection of Melifonwu shows the Raiders -- who had the fewest sacks in the league with 25 -- are addressing the pass rush by solidifying coverage. As Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack says, “pass rush and coverage work hand-in-hand.” Meaning Mack should get a coverage sack or two with an improved secondary, right?
How he fits: The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Melifonwu has been described as a genetic freak; he ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, registered a 44-inch vertical leap and went nearly 12 feet in the broad jump. The Raiders are betting he is more than a workout warrior. He did, after all, have eight interceptions in four seasons at UConn, with four picks and 118 tackles as a senior, but it’s hard to see him beating out either Joseph or Nelson. Rather, as a rookie, expect him to learn at Nelson's knee and get lots of special-teams run. And if his coverage is up to par, Melifonwu could perhaps pick up some tight-end coverage, particularly in the AFC West.
Round 3, No. 88: Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA
My take: The Raiders had a league-low 25 sacks last season, with three coming from the interior of the defensive line. And the two players responsible for those sacks -- Stacy McGee and Dan Williams -- are no longer on Oakland’s roster. Vanderdoes does not necessarily address a pass-rushing need in the middle; he had four career sacks at UCLA and missed nearly all of the 2015 season with a torn ACL. But he could be more athletic than Williams and occupy space and blockers; if Darius Latham and Justin Ellis improve their push, that would free up the likes of Mack and Bruce Irvin on the edges. Vanderdoes was a prime prospect before his injury, and while he seemed slower after the rehab last fall, he did have a strong showing at the Senior Bowl to raise his stock again. Bottom line: The Raiders need to be more athletic down low, and Vanderdoes addresses that need.
How he fits: The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Vanderdoes ran a 4.99-second 40-yard dash, broke off 28 reps in the 225-pound press and had a 28½-inch vertical jump. So as far as defensive tackles go, yeah, he’s athletic, maybe more athletic than the departed duo of McGee and Williams. And that’s how he fits ... so long as he’s healthy and his knee issue is a thing of the past. Vanderdoes, who had 126 career tackles with 13.5 for a loss, needs to occupy blockers, force double-teams and stay fresh. He does that and the Raiders might have found a gem. If not, the Raiders still need a big body down low.
What's next: The Raiders have five selections remaining on Day 3 (Nos. 129, 168, 208, 242 and 244), including two in the seventh round. They still have needs at inside linebacker and, yes, defensive tackle.
Round 4, No. 129: David Sharpe, OL, Florida
My take: According to the NFL Network, Sharpe is “almost blind” in his right eye -- something Sharpe denies -- and is sometimes “late off the ball.” That would mean he would primarily be a left tackle and learn the craft at the NFL level under Donald Penn, who will be 34 years old. The Raiders offensive line is already a team strength, so Sharpe might have a steep climb just dressing on game days, let alone competing for quality snaps.
How he fits: Not the most gleaming of scouting reports, right, especially because he reportedly compares to Raiders offensive lineman Vadal Alexander? Still, he protected Luke Del Rio’s backside at Florida, so you know Raiders coach Jack Del Rio received an in-depth scouting report from his son on the 6-foot-6, 357-pound Sharpe. A huge man, Sharpe would provide depth, compete for an extra offensive lineman spot on game days and could see time on special teams.
Round 5, No. 168: Marquel Lee, LB, Wake Forest
My take: Finally, the Raiders addressed their glaring hole at inside/middle linebacker with the selection of Lee. Does that mean he will step in as the Day 1 starter? Hardly, but Oakland needs depth there, with Ben Heeney and Cory James the lone Raiders on the roster with “pure” inside linebacker experience. The Raiders need numbers, and Lee had production last fall for the Demon Deacons, with 7.5 sacks and 105 tackles, 20 for a loss.
How he fits: GM Reggie McKenzie wants a “cerebral” playmaker in the middle of the field, and while Lee does make plays, it’s hard to imagine a fifth-round rookie stepping in immediately and becoming a starter. Rather, it’s easier to envision the Raiders re-signing Perry Riley Jr. and having Lee get his snaps on special teams and learning the position going forward. After all, not only was McKenzie an inside linebacker, so were coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
Round 7, No. 221: Shalom Luani, S, Washington State
My take: The Raiders, as noted time and again, had just the 24th-ranked pass defense in the NFL despite strong safety Karl Joseph being named to several all-rookie teams and free safety Reggie Nelson going to the Pro Bowl. Oakland needs depth and Luani provides it, even if he may be seen as a ball hawk -- eight interceptions the past two years -- with poor tackling skills.
How he fits: Depth. Depth. Depth. Luani provides it, as well as a nose for the ball, as evidenced by his eight picks in the Palouse. But with his tackling being an issue, the former soccer player -- he scored for American Samoa in its first FIFA-sanctioned win over Tonga in 2011 -- will need some seasoning.
Round 7, No. 231: Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State
My take: The Raiders offensive line is a team strength, with three Pro Bowlers, a free-agent signee and the top eight O-linemen already essentially locked in. Plus, they used a fourth-round draft pick on David Sharpe from Florida. So why would the Raiders use a seventh-round selection on an unknown commodity like Jylan Ware? Depth at best; camp body at worst.
How he fits: Not sure, exactly. Perhaps to sharpen the other Raiders offensive linemen in camp? It’s hard to see the 6-foot-8, 295-pound Ware making the team as it is currently constructed, let alone dressing on Sundays. He is a large man, though, so perhaps he fits in any place he pleases?
Round 7, No. 242:Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina
My take: The Raiders needed to draft a running back, yes, even after acquiring Marshawn Lynch on Wednesday. Lynch probably isn’t playing more than two years, and Hood’s running style seems similar to that of Lynch, even if Lynch is unique. Hood ran for 1,463 yards as a sophomore with 17 TDs but fell to 858 yards and 8 TDs last fall. His skill set as a power back is different than those of DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, which is a positive.
How he fits: Too soon to say he's the heir apparent to Lynch? Yes. But Hood said he models his hard-running style after that of Lynch. "That's Beast Mode," Hood said. "I'm shedding tears right now." The Raiders want the 6-foot, 230-pounder to slim down a bit to work to his elusiveness, lest he find himself being groomed as a fullback.