With the 2010 NFL Draft coming up in less than a week, let’s take a look at some of the many possibilities for the Oakland Raiders at pick #8 in the first round.
Certainly, trading up or back a few slots is always possible for Oakland, but since that is so difficult to predict, let’s just stick to assuming the Raiders will pick at #8 and examine some likely scenarios that could lead to different players being available to Oakland in that slot.
Scenario #1:
1. Rams – QB Bradford
2. Lions – DT Suh
3. Buccaneers – DT McCoy
4. Redskins – OT Okung
5. Chiefs – S Berry
6. Seahawks – OT Williams
7. Browns – OT Bulaga
8. Raiders – QB Claussen
Let’s get this out of the way first. Personally, I don’t think the Raiders should jump back into a questionable 1st-round QB. They have so many holes to fill and, even though QB is one of them, they have enough warm bodies on the roster at QB that they should first start building the offensive and defensive line and hope that one of their journeyman QB’s has a solid year and that they can find their franchise QB of the future next year.
Scenario #2:
1. Rams – QB Bradford
2. Lions – DT Suh
3. Buccaneers – S Berry
4. Redskins – OT Okung
5. Chiefs – DT McCoy
6. Seahawks – WR Bryant
7. Browns – QB Clausen
8. Raiders – OT Davis
In this scenario, the Chiefs can’t pass up McCoy, the Seahawks reach a little for the top WR, and Cleveland proves that Mike Holmgren’s lukewarm quotes about Clausen a few weeks ago were just a smokescreen. So Oakland lands the OT from Rutgers. Hopefully for Raiders fans they don’t reach for Maryland OT Bruce Campbell in this spot instead of Trent Williams.
Scenario #3:
1. Browns (from Rams) – QB Bradford
2. Lions – OT Okung
3. Buccaneers – DT Suh
4. Redskins – OT Williams
5. Chiefs – OT Davis
6. Seahawks – DT McCoy
7. Rams – OT Bulaga
8. Raiders – S Berry
This time the Raiders can’t pass up the big play ability of Eric Berry, the top-ranked safety most experts predict will be selected by one of the top 7 teams.
Scenario #4:
1. Rams – QB Bradford
2. Lions – DT Suh
3. Buccaneers – DT McCoy
4. Redskins – OT Davis
5. Chiefs – OT Okung
6. Seahawks – OT Williams
7. Browns – S Berry
8. Raiders – ILB McClain
This scenario plays out in a way that leaves Oakland free to select Jimmy Clausen or the next-best offensive lineman still on the board, but they opt for the fiery tackling machine out of Alabama to sure up their run defense. Solid pick, especially considering he is likely coveted by the rival Broncos waiting to pick 11th.
Scenario #5:
1. Rams – QB Bradford
2. Lions – DT McCoy
3. Buccaneers – DT Suh
4. Redskins – OT Okung
5. Chiefs – S Berry
6. Seahawks – OT Davis
7. Browns – ILB McClain
8. Raiders – WR Bryant
Despite reaching for WR Darrius Heyward-Bey at #7 last year (or perhaps because that pick looks to be a bust), Al Davis can’t resist grabbing the top wideout.
Most Likely Scenario:
Sadly enough, I predict that the top 7 picks will play out along similar lines to one of the scenarios laid out above and Oakland will pick OT Campbell at #8 for the second consecutive first-round bust out of the University of Maryland.
Oakland Raiders 2010 NFL Draft, mock draft, nfl trade rumours, bradford, suh, - Realfootball365.com
