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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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Oakland Raiders
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU offensive lineman Vadal Alexander speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Vadal Alexander might be the steal of the draft for the Raiders. Though never projected to be one of the top linemen off the board, the fact that he fell all the way down to the seventh round was surprising. And a stroke of luck for McKenzie and the Raiders because like pass rushers, you can never have too many offensive linemen.

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    • Alexander provides some depth on the line that the Raiders do need. Though they are locked in with a line that features Donald Penn, Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele, and either Austin Howard or Menelik Watson, being able to nab the second rated guard in the draft per a number of scouting services – and in the seventh round at that – is a big get.

    Though initially projected as a guard, Alexander has also played right tackle as well, so the versatility is something that Raiders valued. But he’s going to need to improve and develop as a tackle if he hopes to play that position.

    But the Raiders would be just fine if he never transitioned to tackle. Penn is on a two year deal and is nearing the end of his career, and when he finally pulls the plug – or the team pulls it for him – Osemele will slide over to that spot, allowing the Raiders to plug Alexander into the guard position, maintaining the big, physical, powerful offensive line they’ve assembled.

    Being able to nab a big, mauling talent like Alexander in the seventh round was a steal. Paired with Jackson, the Raiders would have a pair of absolute road graders inside. He was a fantastic value pick in the seventh and will pay big dividends for the Raiders down the line.

    Grade: A

    Next: A Broad Overview

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