Oakland Raiders superlatives for the 2019 NFL Draft class
By Justin Fried
![NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Josh Jacobs of Alabama poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen #24 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Josh Jacobs of Alabama poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen #24 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1a863ab1b396a32d8697821402be44f3c1c5b1155e286d75ceeb6c17735c6cf7.jpg)
The 2019 NFL Draft is well in the rear-view mirror which means we could take a look at some initial superlatives for the Oakland Raiders draft class.
Now that we are over two weeks removed from the end of the 2019 NFL Draft, the three-day talent-raid extravaganza feels like a distant memory. Yet, there’s still plenty of time to discuss what the Oakland Raiders did right and what the team did wrong with their draft class.
While it may be early to analyze the true successes and failures of a draft class — seeing as it hasn’t even been a month yet — we could still do our best to gauge the future effectiveness of each selection.
That said, each pick has already been carefully analyzed and graded based on initial value. But we thought it would be a fun exercise to go back and give out six superlatives for members of the Oakland Raiders 2019 NFL Draft class.
These superlatives will look to establish early identities for the newest crop of Raiders players. Some of these monikers will be labels of praise while others may be a bit more critical. Either way, none of these designations should be considered permanent and each could easily be outgrown.
After all, it’s never too late to rewrite your own story.
With that, let’s take a look at some of the superlatives we decided to give out to this year’s Raiders draft class.
Best Value: Hunter Renfrow, WR (Clemson)
Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock aren’t necessarily individuals too concerned with a prospect’s perceived “value.” Rather, the two take a more direct approach and select their favorite players, even if they might be perceived as “reaches” in the public eye.
Case in point, their first-round selection of Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell.
That said, the Raiders just so happened to have a fellow Clemson alumnus fall right into their laps in the fifth round of this year’s draft. Longtime Tigers legend Hunter Renfrow was snatched up in the middle of Day 3 of the draft in what could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft.
Now, it’s not as if Renfrow was projected earlier and simply fell — this was right around his projected draft range. Instead, his expected production could make him one of the more successful Day 3 draft picks from this year’s class.
Renfrow fell in the draft for obvious reasons. He isn’t an explosive athlete and stands at just 5-foot-10 on his best day. But what Renfrow lacks in size and athleticism he more than makes up for with his grit and determination — and other-worldly hands.
The beloved Clemson great could be in-line for some early playing time as the Raiders top slot option meaning that he should have plenty of opportunities to make an impact early on. There likely won’t be many fifth-round picks that will make the type of impact he will early on making this the clear best value pick for the Raiders in this draft.