Full Oakland Raiders 2017 NFL Draft Report Card
By Erik Lambert
The Oakland Raiders 2017 NFL draft report card is complete. All seven rounds have conclude for another year and it’s time to assess.
It was an odd year for the Silver and Black. In terms of talent they acquired some intriguing names at some key positions that could really help them improve on defense. More blocking arrived for Derek Carr, as did some new weapons. Yet at the same time there were some question marks. Picks that really didn’t mesh with the timing or the player involved. All will be reflected in the grades to come. If nothing else the Raiders either got a lot better or they got too cute.
Day 1
Gareon Conley (CB, Ohio State)
In true Raiders tradition, the team took a major risk on a player with a character red flag. Gareon Conley was notably hung up in a rape investigation just before the start of the draft. He immediately pronounced his innocence and insisted there was proof on hand. Teams were in constant contact but it was Oakland who ended his slide from what likely should’ve been a top 15 selection. They better hope they made the right call.
If they did then they got a potential steal at a critical position of need. Cornerback play is a big reason they couldn’t close the deal a lot of times last season. Easily one of their biggest team weaknesses. Conley is an athletic technician who can win with size, agility and diagnostics. He doesn’t make a ton of mistakes. Utterly reliable. Al Davis would be proud. He loves corners who could play man-to-man and Conley fits the bill.