Oakland Raiders 2018 re-draft: Fixing Gruden's first class

Oakland Raiders 2018 re-draft: Fixing Gruden’s first class

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Kolton Miller of UCLA talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #15 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2 of 4

First round: Derwin James, S, Florida State (Chargers)

Original pick: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

I don’t think the Oakland Raiders are the only team regretting passing on Derwin James in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

About half the NFL is guilty of that, although some teams are probably pretty happy with their picks.

The Chargers are not complaining at all about getting one of the NFL’s most dangerous weapons in the back half of the first round. James put together a rookie season for the ages when he racked up 105 total tackles, 13 pass breakups, three interceptions, 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, and six QB hits.

It didn’t matter if the Chargers were asking James to line up on tight ends, cover running backs, blitz, play out wide — it truly didn’t matter. He made plays.

Now it appears the Raiders and half of the other teams in the NFL missed out on a franchise cornerstone in James, who took the Chargers’ defense to the next level as a rookie.

Home/NFL Draft