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

By Sayre Bedinger

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)
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) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Fred Warner #48 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 18-15. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Fred Warner #48 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 18-15. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Second round: Fred Warner, LB, BYU (49ers)

Original pick: PJ Hall, DL, Sam Houston State

PJ Hall could yet turn out to be a great pick for the Raiders, but I think they had a much clearer and more pressing need at the linebacker position.

In today’s NFL, you not only need your linebackers to have speed, range, strength, and ability to take on blocks, but you also need them to be able to cover well.

Fred Warner did all of those things at BYU and sort of went underrated throughout the 2018 NFL Draft process.

That fall was the 49ers’ gain as they got one of the most underrated rookies in the NFL last season who piled up 124 tackles, six pass breakups, a forced fumble, and three tackles for loss in 16 starts last season.

The Raiders resorted to signing some veterans (Brandon Marshall, Vontaze Burfict) this offseason to try and fill their void at the linebacker positions.

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