The Oakland Raiders never shy away from making exotic picks in the NFL draft.
It’s one of the reasons they are so endearing to their passionate fan base. They dare to be different. While things have calmed somewhat since the days of Al Davis, no more punters or kickers in the 1st round, the team has not completely discarded its tradition of considering players that might be “untouchable” to other clubs. They feel for the first time they have a good situation in terms of coaching and stability to handle such ventures.
That was made clear when Matt Miller of Bleacher Report indicated the Raiders may have eyes for one of the most dynamic and perplexing prospects in the class.
"“A coaching source in Oakland said the Raiders would love Ezekiel Elliott to fall to them, but a realistic option per this source was a big defensive tackle or left tackle of the future. … Two names to remember, according to the coach I talked to: Chris Jones and Robert Nkemdiche.”"
By far the more explosive name is Nkemdiche. For those who haven’t stayed caught up on events, the Ole Miss defensive lineman has had one of the most fascinating pre-draft runs in recent memory. It began with him falling out of fourth-story window and eventually being arrested for marijuana possession. Then came the scouting combine, where he put his extensive athletic talent on full display but also reportedly did not interview well.
He comes off as aloof, odd and quirky with some rather interesting desires on what he plans to do once he gets to the NFL.
Such unique characteristics often scare teams to death. They can’t be sure how committed he is to football, how stable his life is at home and whether he can be a good teammate or a distraction. This is nothing new to the Oakland Raiders. They’ve employed some of the kookiest characters in NFL history and managed to win lots of games.
It’s all about whether the coaches can keep things in line and they have good leaders on the field. If Reggie McKenzie feels they do, then the risk could be worth it. Nkemdiche has the capacity to become a star in the pros and teaming him with Khalil Mack up front would be devastating.