Oakland Raiders: Handing out grades for the team’s 2018 draft picks
By Kevin Saito
UCLA. Kolton Miller. 15. Offensive Tackle. 28. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player
It wasn’t all that surprising when the Raiders traded back in the first round. What was downright shocking was that they used the fifteenth overall pick on UCLA OT Kolton Miller – a player many had pegged as a probably day two talent.
Miller is big man, standing six-foot-nine, weighing 310 pounds. He’s strong, having put up 24 reps at the Combine, as well as fast for a man his size, running a sub-five 40. His measurables are off the charts, and on paper, he’s an ideal fit on Derek Carr‘s blind side.
But, his tape at UCLA in 2017 was uneven and inconsistent – hence his previously projected second-round status. He still a bit raw and needs a lot of work on his technique to excel at the NFL level.
The potential is there and his ceiling is high. Miller could very well be a cornerstone of this offensive line for years to come. Or, he could be the next Robert Gallery.
It was obvious that Gruden’s plan coming in was to fortify the line in front of Carr. With the right tackle spot a glaring weakness, and Donald Penn in the twilight of his career, it was wise to get some guys in who can begin to take over.
But, with Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey surprisingly being taken by the San Francisco 49ers at number nine overall, Gruden and his staff had to switch to plan-B – Miller.
Miller is going to be something of a project and most feel that Gruden reached – really reached – taking him at fifteenth overall. They very well could have traded back again, and still landed Miller while accruing a little more draft capital.
Miller could end up being a good one. But, there are a lot of ifs and maybes that surround him. And that’s not something you want in your first-round pick.
GRADE: C-