Oakland Raiders 2015 NFL Draft Strategy: Deal Or No Deal?
By Erik Lambert
November 9, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) talks to offensive coordinator Greg Olson (right) during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at O.co Coliseum. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Barring a major surge over the final games of the year, the Oakland Raiders should secure the #1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. What will they or should they do with it?
Best Player
Much depends on whether they are going to move forward with Derek Carr. He certainly has shown flashes that he can be a star in the future but he obviously needs time to mature. So taking quarterback off the board, the best player that almost every draft outlet has on their big board is USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams. He is a mover with the size and strength to stop the run but the quickness and burst to collapse the pocket and sack the quarterback. Pairing him with Khalil Mack could give the Raiders their version of Justin Smith and Aldon Smith in San Francisco.
Biggest Need
More than a few Oakland fans insist that the Raiders are in dire need of more help at wide receiver. Outside of James Jones they have nobody that can be considered a legitimate threat. This would of course put the team on an intercept course with Amari Cooper. The Alabama star is the best wide receiver in the 2015 NFL draft class and it may not even be close. He decent size coupled with blazing speed and precise route running make him a big play waiting to happen. Pairing him with Carr could form the next great quarterback-receiver duo.
Trade
Then there is the avenue that is unavoidable. Would the Oakland Raiders look to trade the #1 pick for more picks in the future? The top choice is almost certain to fetch a healthy bounty, especially if the right players are available. Having two top quarterbacks like a Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston could create a scenario similar to 2012 when Washington gave away the farm to get Robert Griffin III. In truth the Raiders may not find a team that is that desperate, but the possibilities of coming away with more valuable assets to keep building their roster is hard to ignore.
The decision isn’t likely to come down for months and of course the Raiders aren’t guaranteed that pick just yet. Still, the picture is beginning to clear. What will the Silver and Black do?