THE OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2009 OFFSEASON THREAD
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Trade winds will tempt Raiders
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Saturday, April 11th, 2009 at 3:23 pm in Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders have never been shy about making deals at draft time, whether it be with picks or players on the current roster.
Last season, Oakland dispatched the No. 104 and No. 213 picks to move up four spots and take Tyvon Branch at No. 100. They dealt cornerback Fabian Washington for a fourth-round pick which turned out to be wide receiver Arman Shields.
Branch has been lightly penciled in as the starter at strong safety, while the hope is Shields can be a more recent version of Michael Bush _ a potential starter who rehabbed an injury for a year and will turn out to be a bargain.
They’ve had their share of swings and misses.
They dealt the No. 7 overall pick in for Randy Moss well in advance of the draft.
They acquired Mike Williams and Josh McCown for a fourth-round draft pick in 2007. (Although, remarkably, the Raiders got the better end of the deal _ if there is such a thing. A.J. Davis, the cornerback the Lions drafted, failed to make the team, landed on the practice squad, and was waived. He’s trying to catch on with the Houston Texans).
They traded up to get Mario Henderson, traded up to get Sam Williams. Back in 1997, they moved up to get Ricky Dudley.
The Raiders have already acquired their probable starting center, Samson Satele, by swapping fourth round picks and sending a sixth-rounder to the Miami Dolphins.
There is conjecture this could be the year Al Davis deviates from his normal mode of trading up in the draft and instead trades back to acquire more picks.
The Baltimore Sun reports the Raiders had an on-site visit with Darrius Heyward-Bey, the most impressive size-speed receiver in the draft out of Maryland. The NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has the Raiders taking Heyward-Bey as a surprise at No. 7.
Yet most mock drafts have only Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin as receivers who could go that high, which means trading back is an option if they like Heyward-Bey.
At No. 7 the Raiders likely won’t be high enough to land either of the two top tackles, Baylor’s Jason Smith and Virginia’s Eugene Monroe.
They won’t be high enough to get Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who’s selection at No. 3 to Kansas City appears to chiseled in stone. (The Raiders don’t have a particular need at weakside linebacker _ although Curry might be good enough to play anywhere _ but he’s considered possibly the best football player in the draft).
If the Raiders are deciding between B.J. Raji, Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown, Michael Oher, Maclin or Crabtree, they can stay where they are be assured of landing one of them.
For virtually anyone else, it would behoove Oakland to seriously consider trading back and adding picks.
If they like Heyward-Bey better than Crabtree or Maclin, they can trade back.
If they want any one of three USC linebackers (Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews), they can trade back.
If they like Mississippi’s Peria Jerry or Raji’s Boston College teammate, Ron Brace, better than Raji, they can trade back.
It’s not a tactic the Raiders have employed in the past, but then again, this entire postseason has been one of a common-sense approach and adding young talent, with the notable exclusion of signing veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia.
Trading back, getting more picks and building that young talent base makes sense.
Follett, Meredith, etc.
Various published and Internet sites have linked the Raiders with Cal lineabacker Zach Follett and Jamon Meredith (Sporting News diary).
Both likely would merit second-day consideration.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Saturday, April 11th, 2009 at 3:23 pm in Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders have never been shy about making deals at draft time, whether it be with picks or players on the current roster.
Last season, Oakland dispatched the No. 104 and No. 213 picks to move up four spots and take Tyvon Branch at No. 100. They dealt cornerback Fabian Washington for a fourth-round pick which turned out to be wide receiver Arman Shields.
Branch has been lightly penciled in as the starter at strong safety, while the hope is Shields can be a more recent version of Michael Bush _ a potential starter who rehabbed an injury for a year and will turn out to be a bargain.
They’ve had their share of swings and misses.
They dealt the No. 7 overall pick in for Randy Moss well in advance of the draft.
They acquired Mike Williams and Josh McCown for a fourth-round draft pick in 2007. (Although, remarkably, the Raiders got the better end of the deal _ if there is such a thing. A.J. Davis, the cornerback the Lions drafted, failed to make the team, landed on the practice squad, and was waived. He’s trying to catch on with the Houston Texans).
They traded up to get Mario Henderson, traded up to get Sam Williams. Back in 1997, they moved up to get Ricky Dudley.
The Raiders have already acquired their probable starting center, Samson Satele, by swapping fourth round picks and sending a sixth-rounder to the Miami Dolphins.
There is conjecture this could be the year Al Davis deviates from his normal mode of trading up in the draft and instead trades back to acquire more picks.
The Baltimore Sun reports the Raiders had an on-site visit with Darrius Heyward-Bey, the most impressive size-speed receiver in the draft out of Maryland. The NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has the Raiders taking Heyward-Bey as a surprise at No. 7.
Yet most mock drafts have only Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin as receivers who could go that high, which means trading back is an option if they like Heyward-Bey.
At No. 7 the Raiders likely won’t be high enough to land either of the two top tackles, Baylor’s Jason Smith and Virginia’s Eugene Monroe.
They won’t be high enough to get Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who’s selection at No. 3 to Kansas City appears to chiseled in stone. (The Raiders don’t have a particular need at weakside linebacker _ although Curry might be good enough to play anywhere _ but he’s considered possibly the best football player in the draft).
If the Raiders are deciding between B.J. Raji, Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown, Michael Oher, Maclin or Crabtree, they can stay where they are be assured of landing one of them.
For virtually anyone else, it would behoove Oakland to seriously consider trading back and adding picks.
If they like Heyward-Bey better than Crabtree or Maclin, they can trade back.
If they want any one of three USC linebackers (Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews), they can trade back.
If they like Mississippi’s Peria Jerry or Raji’s Boston College teammate, Ron Brace, better than Raji, they can trade back.
It’s not a tactic the Raiders have employed in the past, but then again, this entire postseason has been one of a common-sense approach and adding young talent, with the notable exclusion of signing veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia.
Trading back, getting more picks and building that young talent base makes sense.
Follett, Meredith, etc.
Various published and Internet sites have linked the Raiders with Cal lineabacker Zach Follett and Jamon Meredith (Sporting News diary).
Both likely would merit second-day consideration.
I like Heyward Bey more than any of the other receivers in the draft but i dont think there is anyway we should take him at 7 i think a good trade for us would be trying to get philly to trade us the number 21 and 28 picks for number 7 i think we could get bey and another good player at 28 and still have pick 7 in the 2nd so there would still be good players available there too
Speed is overrated if speed is all you have but if you have other attributes to go along with your speed like hands, size, jumping, and the ability to make defenders miss, then speed becomes a bonus. I think Heyward Bey has more size than Crabtree too. I think Crabtree is going to struggle to get open in the NFL because he doesn't have the speed to gain separation. I'd take Heyward Bey because you can't teach speed. Heyward Bey ran a 4.3 flat.... but he's got more to offer than just speed. His numbers (other than "speed") at the combine are impressing, that's why he's shooting up the draft boards.
just take crabtree if he is there or raji but if you can trade down with philly then get bey and ron brace rajis partner from boston college. there is also a safety out of ohio u named mike mitchell im hoping they can steal in the 3rd round big hitter and looks decent in reading coverage and anticipation youtube him if you get a chance.