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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 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back DeAndre Washington (21) rushes against the LSU Tigers at NRG Stadium. LSU won 56 to 27. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

The coaches downplayed it, but the Raiders entered this offseason with a need for a running back. Not because Latavius Murray wasn’t getting the job done, but simply because Murray needed some help in the backfield. Despite the fact that Murray broke 1,000 yards and maintained an average of about four yards a carry, he wore down as the season went on and his yards per carry average slipped during the latter part of the season.

Given the fact that he touched the ball more than 300 times last season – which put him among the league leaders – it’s not surprising that he wore down. Especially given that he got no help from either Taiwan Jones or Roy Helu. In fact, outside of Murray, the running game was so anemic that Derek Carr was second on the team in rushing yards with 138.

It’s not a sure thing though, that they got the help their running game needed with the addition of the former Texas Tech running back. At 5’8”, 200 lbs., Deandre Washington is quick and he has a compact frame that carries plenty of power. He’s going to do some good things in the niche that will be carved out for him.

But what isn’t clear is whether or not, his small frame can hold up to the rigors and punishment of the NFL as anything more than a third down or change of pace back. And the Raiders desperately need more than a change of pace scatback.

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Bruce Irvin's familiarity with Derek Carr served him well in Lions' debut
Bruce Irvin's familiarity with Derek Carr served him well in Lions' debut /

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    • Murray carried the ball 266 times last season. That was third in the NFL behind only Doug Martin and Adrian Peterson. Which helps explain why he wore out in the latter part of the season. Which also helps explain why the Raiders needed somebody who can take a significant share of the burden off of Murray.

    Having two big backs to split the load would help keep both of them fresh and add a powerful dimension to Oakland’s offense as a whole. Though Washington had two very solid, very productive years at Texas Tech, the Raiders needed a little bit more out of a running back than a third down/pass catching/change of pace back. And Washington may not be that guy.

    Grade: C

    Next: A Solid, Under the Radar Career

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