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Oakland Raiders: Worst First Round Draft Picks In Franchise History

By Kevin Saito

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Khalil Mack (Buffalo) poses for a photo with commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number five overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Oakland Raiders at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Khalil Mack (Buffalo) poses for a photo with commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number five overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Oakland Raiders at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oakland Raiders
Nov 22, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain (55) chases Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) in the first half at Sun Life Stadium. The Cowboys won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Innerarity-USA TODAY Sports /

Rolando McClain (Eighth Overall – 2010)

Coming out of Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide football player factory, McClain was a highly decorated linebacker. Winning the Lambert Award, the Butkus Award, being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and being named first team All American, McClain opted to forgo his senior season at Alabama and enter the NFL.

McClain had the size (6’3”, 254 lbs.), the speed and athleticism that many teams coveted. So naturally, the Raiders picked him up at number eight. It was believed that McClain would help correct Oakland’s notoriously poor run defense. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way.

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    • Oakland’s run defense was as poor as ever over the following couple of seasons and McClain saw his playing time decreasing in favor of Miles Burris, a fourth round rookie pick up in 2012. The decreased playing time as well as some not so subtle sniping in the media from then-head coach Dennis Allen in regard to McClain’s ability and grasp on the defense led McClain to – well – flip out.

    As many tend to do, McClain took to Facebook to rant and vent, expressing the sentiment that he was done and over the Raiders. But that seemed to be a foregone conclusion.

    McClain was involved in a series of off-the-field incidents and was arrested multiple times over his tenure with the Raiders.

    McClain’s often erratic behavior, his inconsistent play on the field, his deteriorating relationship with the coaching staff, his petulance over a lack of playing time, and of course, his plethora of legal troubles, led the Raiders to cut him in April 2013, making him just one more name on a long list of bad first round draft picks.

    Next: The 2008 Draft

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