Today the Oakland Raiders signed Justin Griffith’s possible replacement.  I am not a fan of the idea of cutting Griffith, but if the Raiders end up making him a salary cap casualty, I think Matt Hahn will be given a chance to make the roster.  Hahn, like Griffith, is a good run and pass blocker, and also like the Raiders current starting fullback, Hahn catches the ball pretty well.  I’d hate to see Griffith go before seeing anything out of Hahn, but at least they drafted a player talented enough to start at fullback in the NFL.  Oren O’Neil did a decent job as [...]

Warren Sapp was interviewed after the selection of Darren McFadden to see what he thought of the pick.  I’m guessing Yahoo Sports’ Mike Silver was hoping to get a response from Sapp about the Oakland Raiders passing on Glenn Dorsey, but instead he got something totally different. 
“After three games last season, LaMont Jordan led the NFL in rushing,” Sapp said. “But LaMont is like the worst offseason running back I’ve ever been around; he was out of shape and couldn’t keep it going.  Then, remember late in the season, Justin Fargas was slashing and cutting and gaining all those yards? (McFadden) is [...]

A day after the Draft and it’s time to look at what the Oakland Raiders did.  It was a draft much like the Al Davis drafts of recent history; filled with workout warriors.  Darren McFadden brings a talent to the running back position that the Raiders haven’t had since Bo Jackson, and although his physical gifts are far above any other player in this draft, the holes in his game kept him from going in the first 3 picks.
The Raiders 2nd pick ran a 4.31 40 at the NFL Combine, and although he’s very raw, and comes from a sub [...]

Just when I thought the Raiders were doing a decent job in the draft, they go and draft another John Bowie (the guy the Raiders selected with the pick they got for Randy Moss).  You guy’s send Fabian Washington to Baltimore for this?  Take a look at this link to NFL.com, and make sure to watch the footage to the right.  I remember watching this kid at the Combine and saying he looked like crap.  Don’t think this is about speed, because this kid only runs a slightly above average 40.
When you take a chance like this you need to have few risks, but this kids coming off an ACL [...]

The Oakland Raiders were trying to trade Fabian Washington for a 2nd or 3rd round selection, but with those rounds passing without a taker, it’s obvious the Raiders had to settle for a 4th.  That’s what Baltimore sent them (125th overall); so after the Raiders traded up for Tyvon Branch with the Cowboys, they traded Washington for another 4th rounder.  No official word, but it apears the Raiders only gave the Cowboys one of their 7th round picks to move up, which would make the selection of Branch even better.   
My pick:  Dre Moore or Nick Hayden

I don’t like all the things the NFL Network does, but this link to NFL.com will send you to a great breakdown of the Raiders 2nd pick.  I’ve got to admit, I didn’t see this one coming.  I was so focused on finding a receiver that could turn into a starter but return kicks and punts right a way, that I didn’t even think we’d grab a corner.  The corners I scouted were man-to-man cover corners, and although Branch has the recovery speed to play in the Raiders secondary, he hasn’t worked much man-to-man.
I think this is an excellent selection, [...]

Here’s what Darren McFadden had to say to the local media via conference call. 
Q: Were you pretty sure this would be the team for you?
McFadden: For me, I really didn’t know what to expect. I heard a lot of talk about New York, I heard a lot of talk about Oakland too. For me, I was sitting back and I was going to be happy with my name being called.
Q: Lane Kiffin said he called you this morning, what was that conversation like?
McFadden: It’s just a great feeling, he told me if I’m there at No. 4 pick, we was [...]

6′1″
211lbs
Running Back
20 years old
Junior
4.32 40-Yard dash

I had a bunch of footage and some words on that footage, but for some reason I can’t get it to work.  Instead of rambling about McFadden’s positives, I’m going to fight the negative stuff that’s been mentioned lately.  McFadden has never had a chance to play in a system in which he’s not the center of attention.  You know this pick is only going to light a huge fire inside of Justin Fargas.  You know JaMarcus and the deep pass will always be the key to the Raiders offense.  There’s simply no way that McFadden [...]

My Draft Board will be updated all weekend.  
I’ve scouted all 80 of the players below, and organized them by level of importance and talent.  These aren’t my top 80 prospects, but from top to bottom the players that I feel fit the Oakland Raiders needs and schemes.  The highlighted names are Raider draft picks, with a link to a breakdown of the selection.  Players no longer available will be crossed off.  Updated:  The Raiders board ended up being a lot different than mine.  Here’s what my board looked like, and the lone draft pick that was taken.  I think the Raiders did [...]