Oakland Raiders: Assessing the probability of a few first-round options
By Kevin Saito
This assumes that James is even still on the board when the Raiders are on the clock. Most mocks have him going higher, to a team like Tampa Bay.
Given Reggie Nelson‘s play the last couple of seasons, safety has been one of Oakland’s weaker spots. If not for the presence of Karl Joseph, who’s held it down pretty well, the safety position would have been as big of a dumpster fire as the cornerbackers group.
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At six-foot-three, 232 pounds, James has got terrific size, and as he displayed at the recently concluded NFL Combine, freakish athleticism. Scouts think that although he needs to improve his game in run support and coverage, he can play a hybrid safety/linebacker role that a lot of teams seem to be utilizing these days.
What makes the Raiders taking James at ten (assuming he’s there), all the more doubtful, is that they already have Obi Melifonwu back there playing the some role. Because of his injuries last season, the Raiders didn’t get to see much of him and don’t yet know how his skill set translates to the pro game.
Most think that because of his freakish athleticism, Melifonwu will be able to excel in the defensive backfield both in pass coverage and run support. But, we won’t know anything with any certainty until he’s able to suit up and play.
But, with Joseph and Melifonwu already back there, along with former seventh-round pick Shalom Luani, who showed some big time ability in very limited duty last season, the Raiders likely won’t be looking for safety help in the first round.
Probability: Low – Very Low