Oakland Raiders: Grading Out The 2015 Draft Class

Nov 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive linesman Jon Feliciano (70) blocks at the line of scrimmage against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Aaron Donald (97) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Miami won 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Round 4: (124) G Jonathan Feliciano

Pre-draft, there was a lot of chatter about the Raiders possibly taking Ali Marpet from Hobart College. The team has a need at guard, and Marpet was one of the better ones in the draft. Marpet was projected as a second to third round prospect, but when the Raiders went with Clive Walford in the third round – and it was a good pick – it left the door open for somebody else to snag Marpet. And they did – Marpet went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 61st overall pick.

Still needing a guard though – and given how quickly offensive linemen were flying off the board at that point – the Raiders used their fourth round pick on Miami’s Jonathan Feliciano.

Almost immediately after the pick was announced, the criticism started to fly. Most of it was that taking Feliciano in the fourth round was a major overreach. Most scouts saw Feliciano as a seventh round talent at best. Some figured that as the 22nd rated guard in the draft, that he’d go undrafted entirely.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had a less than glowing review of Feliciano:

"“Pear-shaped with short arms. Will lunge after second level targets rather than stalk them. Doesn’t play with strong hands and hand placement can be a mess at times. Hands will slide off strike point rather than latch on. Ducks head and loses sight of target on cut blocks. Confined to phone-booth movement. Isn’t able to latch onto targets, which hinders his consistency as a run blocker in power. Foot quickness is a weakness, which creates too much lunging and leaning in his game. Feliciano is a competent college guard who appears to be lacking the athleticism and technique to be a full-time NFL starter.”"

Oakland’s offensive line saw a tremendous amount of improvement last year, and with most of the line back – and upgraded with the addition of C Rodney Hudson – Feliciano isn’t going to be expected to step in on day one.

At 6’4”, 323 lbs., he has the size Oakland will want on the line. And without the pressure of starting on day one, and the ability to work with Mike Tice, who is one of the best line coaches in the league, Feliciano could develop into a very good lineman.

But we have to agree that taking him in the fourth round – especially in light of a couple of other big needs – was a bit of a reach. Feliciano likely would have been there at the end of the draft, or they likely could have picked him up as a UDFA.

Grade: D

Next: Round Five: Ben Heeney