What is the Oakland Raiders’ Post-Combine Draft Strategy?
By Kevin Saito
Hopefully, somebody woke Oakland Raiders scout Raleigh McKenzie up so he could make his flight home from Indianapolis.
And now that all of the forty yard dashes have been run, all of the bench presses lifted, and all of the broad jumps – well – jumped, the dust is settling on yet another NFL combine. Players and fans alike are scurrying for information about whose stock rose and whose stock fell after their performances.
And more importantly, fans are trying to ferret out any information they can about what it all means for their team.
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What it means for the Raiders is – not a lot changed, really. Though they have many areas that need to be addressed this offseason – linebacker, cornerback, center, offensive guard – their two biggest, most glaring areas of need remain the same. Oakland desperately needs a playmaking wideout, and a nightmare of an edge rusher.
Luckily for the Raiders, those two positions happen to be areas that this year’s draft class is especially deep in. While the other positions where some help is needed can be addressed in the later rounds of the draft, or more likely, through free agency, Oakland’s early picks figure to land them a receiver or an edge rusher.
However, which way the Raiders go with the fourth overall pick – offense or defense – will be impacted in large part, on what they do in free agency.
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver
Amari Coopercatches a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland has made their intentions to pursue Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, and Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton – both of whom have connections to this Raiders organization – perfectly clear. Though they’re armed with a boatload of cap space and are looking primed to be big spenders in free agency, there is a chance that they don’t get the players they’re pursuing.
At this point in time, the Packers are working feverishly on a way to keep Cobb – and wisely so. It’s believed that Cobb is looking for a deal that’s going to pay him roughly $9 million dollars a year or so. It’s not known at this point whether they’ll be able to free up enough cash to do it, but it’s conceivable that Cobb doesn’t leave Green Bay. If he does though, expect GM Reggie McKenzie, armed with a huge checkbook, to pounce. And given his connection to Cobb – he was in the Packers’ front office when they drafted him – as well as the presence of former teammates Charles Woodson and James Jones, there’s a good chance they could persuade him to come to the Bay Area – or where ever the Raiders end up playing in 2015.
It’s also looking increasingly likely that the Broncos are set to part ways with Trevor Knighton. They simply cannot afford to keep him, not with the money they’re already paying out to some of their defensive stars like DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, and T.J. Ward. It’s a numbers game and Knighton, who is believed to be looking for a deal in the $7-$8 million dollar a season range – is likely the odd man out. Given that he’s already stated his desire to play for Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio, and their long history together – in both Jacksonville and Denver – the odds of the Raiders landing the man called Pot Roast are looking pretty good.
So what does this all mean? If the Raiders are able to land Pot Roast, but not Cobb, will they be taking Amari Cooper, Kevin White, or one of the other standout receivers in this year’s draft? Maybe. But maybe not.
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Whether then can lure Knighton to Oakland or not, if USC’s Leonard Williams happens to be on the board at four – and given all of the jockeying for position for either Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, it’s possible – Oakland absolutely must snatch him up. He’s just too good and would bring too much to the Raiders defense to pass him by.
Hey, Oakland got an absolute gift when Khalil Mack fell to five last season, so the idea that Williams could fall to four is not without precedent. Perhaps lightning can strike twice.
However, if Williams is not available, and the Raiders have Knighton in the fold already, would they use the fourth overall pick on somebody who can help them pressure the quarterback like Randy Gregory, Dante Fowler, or Vic Beasley?
Half of the Oakland fanbase is desperately cheering for the Raiders to take Cooper or White, believing the team needs an offensive playmaker more than anything. The other half believes that defense wins championships and is pulling for the Raiders to take a Williams, Fowler, or Gregory.
McKenzie and the Raiders aren’t tipping their hands about their strategy just yet, but once the free agency window opens on March 10, we’ll have perhaps a better idea of how Oakland’s draft strategy is going to play out.
The one thing the Raiders have this season that they haven’t in seasons past though, are foundational building blocks and plenty of options. With the draft as deep at the two positions the Raiders have the biggest needs in, they really can’t go wrong.