Oakland Raiders: McKenzie Would Be Unwise To Trade Down In Draft
By Kevin Saito
Hey, did you hear that the Oakland Raiders are taking Amari Cooper with the fourth pick in the draft? Hey, did you hear they’re taking Kevin White? Hey, did you hear they’re taking Leonard Williams? Hey, did you hear they interviewed Garrett Grayson and are definitely taking him at four? Hey, did you hear the Raiders are trading the fourth pick for a ham sandwich, Pringles, and a diet Coke?
More from Las Vegas Raiders News
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- Raiders: Bryan Edwards out, Henry Ruggs doubtful for Sunday
- Raiders: Damon Arnette re-injures thumb, could be headed to IR
- Raiders fall short in letdown Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots
- Raiders: Game breakdown and prediction for Week 3 at New England Patriots
Raise your hand if you’re getting rumor fatigue.
Chances are, there were a lot of hands in there air there. With the draft just a couple of weeks away now, the rumor mill is working double and even triple time lately. The rumors and speculation are flying at about the speed of light. And it’s only going to get worse until draft day finally rolls around.
With Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders holding the fourth overall pick, they’ve been the subject of a tremendous amount of rumor and speculation. They’re a team on the rise, with some key cornerstone pieces, and a high pick that can surely net them another piece in the puzzle.
While the great debate over picking a wide receiver or an edge rusher rages on, a new rumor has begun to emerge. And it’s one that seems to be growing some legs. According to ESPN’s Bill Williamson, McKenzie has indicated that he’s willing to entertain offers for that fourth overall pick.
With the elite level of talent at the top end of the draft, there is no doubt that many would entertain the idea of slapping McKenzie upside the head if he dared trade down – there are still many who would love to give him a retroactive slap upside the head for trading down to take D.J. Hayden. But that’s neither here nor there at this point.
On certain levels, that McKenzie is willing to entertain the idea of trading down seems to be a simple matter of doing his due diligence. His sole focus is – and has been – assembling the best collection of talent on the roster, and putting the best team possible on the field. Make no mistake about it, McKenzie wants to win. He wants to turn this franchise around and bring it back to glory.
However, given their needs, combined with the talent that is available at the top end of the draft, trading down out of the fourth spot is about the worst thing McKenzie could do.
This statement comes with a caveat, of course. If a team came calling with a package of picks that would allow Oakland the flexibility to improve in a number of different areas, it would probably be a good idea for McKenzie to listen. If, for instance, the Browns – desperate for a shot at Marcus Mariota – came calling on draft day and offered up both of their first round picks (12th and 19th overall), McKenzie might have to make that deal.
For anything short of that though, it may not be worth it.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
In another article by Williamson, he cites a number of NFL scouts who believe that the number of true impact players, guys who can step in on day one and be productive immediately is between eight and ten.
The Raiders desperately need another impact receiver to help beef up their offense – and give Derek Carr another viable weapon to work with – as well as another edge rusher to help the defense put some consistent and sustained pressure on opposing QB’s. They could have one or the other at four. If they were to trade down, even to the 12-15 range that Williamson mentions, they may have fewer options. The top names on the board, Cooper, White, Williams, Vic Beasley, and Dante Fowler Jr., among others, could very likely be gone if Oakland trades down.
I could see the Raiders going down to the No 12-15 range. I think going any further could affect their ability to add an immediate impact player. Many scouts believe this draft goes about 8-10 players deep as far as major impact goes. Thus, the Raiders might be hesitant to give up the No. 4 pick in a trade down.
If they were to trade down, and none of those impact players are on the board where they potentially land – like say, the Dolphins at 14 as has been rumored – what then? While they no doubt have contingency plans in place for such a scenario, how in the world would McKenzie sell that move to the Raiders fan base?
How would McKenzie go back to the Raider faithful – after passing on Cooper, White, Williams, Fowler, or Beasley – and tell them that it was in the best interest of the team? Obviously, it would depend upon what was gained by trading down. But if the player that’s added is somewhat less talented than the player they could have had, it would only inflame the considerable number of Raider fans who still see trading down and taking Hayden as a poor move.
It would only, in their minds, add to McKenzie’s legacy of poor decisions and incompetence.
The Raiders are a team on the rise, there is no question. With explosive young talent like Carr, Latavius Murray, Rod Streater on offense, and Khalil Mack, Justin Ellis, Sio Moore, and Travis Carrie on defense, the Raiders are in a better position than at any point over the last decade plus. This is a young roster filled with talent on both sides of the ball. But they still need a few more pieces of the puzzle to help pull it all together.
They need immediate impact players like Cooper, Williams, or White. They need players who can step in on day one and have an immediate impact, who can contribute straight away. And those types of players might not be available in the lower half of the draft.
Oakland needs an immediate impact player. Sitting at number four, they have that opportunity. They will have the chance to draft elite level talent on both sides of the ball. While they will still likely get somebody good if they traded down, they might not get somebody as good.
And with the Raiders close to turning a corner, that might not be good enough.