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

Cory James had a solid, yet mostly under the radar career at Colorado State. In his four seasons with the Rams, James recorded 229 tackles – 41.5 for a loss – and 24 sacks. He made the switch to the middle linebacker spot for Colorado State last season, but sometimes struggled in the position.

The Raiders though, could use some depth in the middle. With basically just Malcolm Smith, Ben Heeney, and Neiron Ball projected to play inside when they’re in a 3-4 alignment, the Raiders need some more bodies and help.

Though, the fact that they didn’t address the inside linebacker spot earlier, and with a bigger name like Reggie Ragland or Darron Lee, might just be an indication that the team is comfortable with what they have and are ready to roll with them.

James is going to be more of a project player. Like a lot of Oakland’s rookie class, he has a high upside and vast, untapped potential. Before sliding into the middle for the Rams last season, James was making something of a name for himself as a pass rusher. He has good burst up the field and the quickness to get around the edge.

Though most are projecting that the Raiders want to use him inside, that’s not yet a done deal. It’s not clear yet what role they are going carve out for James, and using him as a pass rusher is certainly a possibility. As McKenzie said recently, you can never have too many pass rushers. And for a unit that was greatly improved last season, but still has a way to go in becoming a real force on the defensive side of the ball, that couldn’t be more true.

James is a solid pick who, as he develops, can become a real playmaker for the defense. But he’s likely going to have to earn his snaps on special teams first.

Grade: B

Next: A Fantastic Value Pick