Oakland Raiders 2008 Draft Preview

Bobby Jones wrote:

Deangelo Hall is the best cornerback in the N.F.L., and definitly the fastest (4.13 40 yard dash). He is going to make the Pro-bowl, and the All-pro team. Now all we need is Darren Mcfadden, and it is Super Bowl time.

TexasRaider wrote:

This is really a tough call now that I've thought about it for a long time. Chris Long, Jake Long, and Glen Dorsey will fill needs more than Darren McFadden will since running was our strength last year. However, if McFadden is still on board when we are up, it might be a wise move to take him just to keep KC or Denver from taking him and running all over us. I won't be the least bit surprised if KC takes him if he's still on board especially after the trouble they had with Larry Johnson last year in contract disputes and injuries. Plus when they drafted Johnson, they already had a feature back in Priest Holmes, who was healthy at the time. Larry Johnson was a top RB prospect and fell to #25 overall that year and several teams that were needing a franchise back passed on him and probably regret it to this day. I really hope we can trade Fabian Washington or Lamont Jordan for a second round pick that we can use on Pat Sims if we take McFadden.

TexasRaider wrote:

This is really a tough call now that I've thought about it for a long time. Chris Long, Jake Long, and Glen Dorsey will fill needs more than Darren McFadden will since running was our strength last year. However, if McFadden is still on board when we are up, it might be a wise move to take him just to keep KC or Denver from taking him and running all over us. I won't be the least bit surprised if KC takes him if he's still on board especially after the trouble they had with Larry Johnson last year in contract disputes and injuries. Plus when they drafted Johnson, they already had a feature back in Priest Holmes, who was healthy at the time. Larry Johnson was a top RB prospect and fell to #25 overall that year and several teams that were needing a franchise back passed on him and probably regret it to this day. I really hope we can trade Fabian Washington or Lamont Jordan for a second round pick that we can use on Pat Sims if we take McFadden.

Freddy wrote:

<quoted text>What is your Top-5 list and what do you think is the Top-5 list of the Raider-Brass?

TexasRaider wrote:

<quoted text>
Pretty much my top 5 list is Chris Long, Jake Long, Glen Dosey, Darren McFadden, and for fifth it's a toss up between Sedrick Ellis and Vernon Ghoulston. Adding Kalimba Edwards pretty much eliminated the need for DE, so that pretty much takes Chris Long and Vernon Ghoulston out of the picture. However, with Warren Sapp retired, it is possible that the Raiders might go to a 3-4 since that is Rob Ryan's strength as far as coaching goes and if we do that then that will have a huge affect on the Raider-Brass because we will still need a primary Nose Guard and will have to add a linebacker. Sedrick Ellis will be better at filling the Nose guard void if we go to a 3-4 than Glen Dorsey, but if we can get a high second round pick, then that will give us Pat Sims as an option if he's still on board and we can take McFadden and hopefully we'll be able to steal a linebacker in a later round. Al Davis is good at scouting linebackers.
I'm having a hard time figuring out who the Raiders themselves could have in mind for draft day, because like I said before, Darren McFadden is not a player you want to fall to KC especially after what was going on with Larry Johnson last year and why Larry Johnson became a chief in the first place, but if Jake Long, is still on board we need him to fill a void at left tackle. The only reason for drafting Chris Long now is legacy if he's still on board and I know Al will take him if he is. I think our DL will be able to get by as long as Tommy Kelly and Derrick Burgess stay healthy. Gerrard Warren did well when he was healthy and the addition of Kalimba Edwards will be a good compliment at the other end if we stick to a 4-3 which seems evident since we added William Joseph to the DT rotation plus we still have the mamouth Terdell Sands too. Jay Richardson will probably be better this year and I don't know who the 4th end is since Chris Clemmons left via FA. As long as we have a whole front 4 that can pennetrate the line of scrimage instead of just 1 or two at a time, we should be able to stop the run and avoid double teams on the guys that can pennitrate the line of scrimage. The Raiders are probably thinking Chris Long, Jake Long, Darren McFadden, Glen Dorsey, and Sedrick Ellis as their top 5 prospects.

TexasRaider wrote:

Mike Mayock has us taking Vernon Ghoulston. He's pretty accurate too like Vic Carucci, so this could be interesting...

UK Steve wrote:

I'm going to throw LB Keith Rivers in to the mix too .. I read somewhere (cant remmember where ) that Oakland may possibly be looking to trade down and pick him up. Although the trade down wouldnt come as a shock, picking Rivers might do.

Triborough wrote:

Some reports say the front office is high on OL Bharat Wickramasenghe of So. Carolina Tech and CB Quanle Acharya from New Mexico U.
They're looking at WR Siddwin Lincoln out of Arkansas State as a sleeper pick.
All scouts at the combine liked what they saw.

Freddy wrote:

<quoted text>The "experts" believe Rivers could go as high as 10 to the Saints (if they don't take a DB). What are your trade scenarios?

THE LONE RAIDER wrote:

THEY HAVE TO PROTECT THE (QB)! OAKLAND IS BUILDING THE TEAM AROUND JA.RUSS,AND JAKE LONG WILL DO FINE.EVERYWHERE ELSE IS PRETTY MUCH SET UP AND DOING WELL. BUT THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN NEEDING TO PROTECT OUR (QB) WITH ALL THESE ADDITIONS, ALL WE REALLY NEED IS A (OL)

THE LONE RAIDER wrote:

THEY HAVE TO PROTECT THE (QB)! OAKLAND IS BUILDING THE TEAM AROUND JA.RUSS,AND JAKE LONG WILL DO FINE.EVERYWHERE ELSE IS PRETTY MUCH SET UP AND DOING WELL. BUT THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN NEEDING TO PROTECT OUR (QB) WITH ALL THESE ADDITIONS, ALL WE REALLY NEED IS A (OL)