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Oakland Raiders: Grading Out The Team’s 2016 Draft Class

By Kevin Saito

Feb 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Oakland Raiders helmet and NFL Wilson Duke football at Santa Monica State Beach. NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow owner Rams Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to move the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles for the 2016 season with an option also award to Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Oakland Raiders helmet and NFL Wilson Duke football at Santa Monica State Beach. NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow owner Rams Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to move the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles for the 2016 season with an option also award to Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) in action against Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half of the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

This was a pick that confounded many – especially given the fact that McKenzie traded up for the chance to nab him. Trading up is almost unheard of for McKenzie and given that he did it at a position where the starter – Derek Carr – is already very firmly entrenched, and backup Matt McGloin seemed to have a firm hold on the job, it seemed like a strange pick.

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    • But with a little distance from the draft now, the pick isn’t necessarily looking so strange. McKenzie is coming from an organization in Green Bay whose practice was to draft a quarterback every few years, regardless of whether there was an entrenched starter or not. The philosophy being, you don’t need to rush the quarterback’s development, and if something ever happens to your starter, you have a capable body to step into the breach – or, given the value of good quarterbacks in this league, at worst, you have a valuable trade commodity.

    Outside of Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, Connor Cook was arguably one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in the draft. It wasn’t his ability, but questions about his character and leadership skills that touched off his slide down the draft board.

    Cook holds a number of passing records at Michigan State including passing yardage and touchdowns. He also owns a 34-5 record as a starter.

    Cook excelled as a college quarterback and if not for those lingering doubts about his character, he very well may have been a first round selection. He certainly has all the skills needed to be a solid NFL quarterback.

    But, given the fact that McGloin is on a one year deal, it’s entirely possible that the Raiders move him as Cook gives them a fresh body who is cheaper and has the ability to be a good quarterback in this league.

    Grade: B-

    Next: A Good Add, Just Not Quite Enough

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