Oakland Raiders: Re-Drafting the 2017 class using the power of hindsight

The Oakland Raiders got next to nothing out of their 2017 crop of rookies, so, using the infallible power of hindsight, we’re going to re-pick the team’s draft class.

Suffice it to say, if the Oakland Raiders are going to get back on track and look more like the 12-4 team they were two seasons ago, and less like the 6-10 team they were last season, they’re going to need some help – via both, free agency and the NFL Draft.

Though it was (and possibly still is) brimming with potential, Oakland’s crop of rookies last year was a huge disappointment and contributed next to nothing to this team. The team’s top two picks – Gareon Conley and Obi Melifonwu – played just 126 defensive snaps on the season. Combined.

Third-round pick Eddie Vanderdoes flashed some potential in camp and the preseason, but in his 464 regular season defensive snaps, he didn’t contribute much of anything. At all.

It’s all the more galling when you look at the success the rookie classes of other teams had – most notably, the New Orleans Saints who had both, the offensive and defensive rookies of the year in Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore.

Oakland may have, arguably, gotten the least out of their 2017 draft class of any team in the league. Which is utterly appalling, of course.

And if the Raiders are going to right their ship, they’ll need more out of this year’s draft class. A lot more.

However, sometimes it’s fun to imagine what could have been, isn’t it?

With the amazingly infallible power of hindsight, let’s take a look back at what could have been had GM Reggie McKenzie made a few tweaks to his draft card. Oakland’s roster would look dramatically different – and quite possibly, the team’s performance on the field would have too.

So, with our amazing 20/20 hindsight, let’s re-draft the 2017 class and imagine what could have been…