Oakland Raiders: Handing out grades for the team’s 2018 draft picks

Well, it is certainly difficult to pass out a final grade, when the body of work is only just beginning. But, we shall endeavor to do just that anyway.

This was a wild, unpredictable, edge of your seat draft for the Raiders this year. Maybe, it’s the presence and growing authority of Gruden. Maybe, as some have suggested, it clashes with McKenzie’s philosophy, and the two have had two different draft boards going, and had to find middle ground before making a pick.

Whatever it was, this year’s draft was up and down, felt disjointed, and seems wildly inconsistent.

Next: Raiders Draft Class Big On Potential, Bigger On Ifs And Maybes

It’s clear they came in with a plan to strengthen and fortify the trenches. It seems like a plan they were so invested in, that when the top targets at the positions came off the board, they scrambled and then reached for the next best thing — which led to them over-drafting guys like Miller and Parker.

That being said, they seem to have gotten some tremendous value picks in guys like Key, Hurst, and Ateman. Those three could — potentially — step in on day one and have a solid, positive impact.

The theme for this year’s draft class though, is potential. There is a ton of potential in this group of rookies. Potential enough that it can help transform this team.

The key is going to be whether or not Gruden and his staff will be able to unlock the potential in this group.

If they can, this is going to be a very solid team for a very long time. If they can’t, and this rookie class underperforms, this is going to be another long season, and an absolute disaster of a draft class.

That’s the problem with boom-or-bust draft picks — they either boom, or they’re busts.

Oakland’s rookie class is brimming with potential — yet flirting with the possibility of blowing up in their faces. It’s really justa crapshoot at this point.

OVERALL GRADE: C+