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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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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 02: Mark Andrews #81 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes a touchdown pass reception in the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs during Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 02: Mark Andrews #81 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes a touchdown pass reception in the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs during Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Third round: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma (Ravens)

Original pick: Brandon Parker, OT, North Carolina A&T

The whole NFL overthought Mark Andrews leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft.

Well, he’s just a big receiver.

Well, duh! That’s what you need in today’s NFL at the tight end position. You don’t just need players who are equally capable of playing in-line as they are splitting out wide. Sometimes when a player is as good at Andrews as playing the big slot, you pick them.

The Ravens stole Andrews in round three but the Raiders had a chance to scoop him up and pair him with Jared Cook, who left this offseason in free agency.

Now, instead of the possibility of just inserting Andrews into the starting lineup to fill the void left behind by Cook, the Raiders are banking on Darren Waller and possibly rookie fourth-round pick Foster Moreau.

Raiders re-draft (top three picks) recap

1. Derwin James, S, Florida State
2. Fred Warner, LB, BYU
3. Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma

Next. 2019 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams. dark

The Raiders aren’t feeling bad about their 2018 draft class in general, but you mean to tell me if they had made these picks instead, they wouldn’t be feeling a lot better?

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