Oakland Raiders NFL Draft needs, prospects, and picks by round
In the 2nd round, day 2 of the draft, the Oakland Raiders have the 4th pick at #36 overall. If the Raiders don’t trade down with the #5 overall pick, this pick could be used to obtain additional draft picks in rounds 3, 4, & 5. Again, this will depend on the Raiders willingness to drop down in the 2nd round, and the desire of another team to move up for their player.
If the Raiders end up choosing a player at pick #36, there are still very good players who will be available to come in and contribute right away. The other scenario is the possibility of the Raiders adding another QB to the roster. GM Reggie McKenzie hasn’t had the best track record with QB’s chosen in the NFL Draft, or via trade, and this would prove to be controversial if it didn’t pan out again. I believe the team would be better served with a CB, DT, LB, or OG with this pick. If McKenzie absolutely needs a QB, then he would be better served to get one in the 3rd or 4th rounds.
Of course, if Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, or Derek Carr are there at #36, don’t be surprised if McKenzie pulls the trigger. Now let’s take a look at who I think would be better choices at the 36th pick:
1. Louis Nix, DT, 2. Timmy Jernigan, DT, 3. Calvin Pryor, FS, 4. Jason Verrett, CB, 5. Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, 6. Dee Ford, DE, 7. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, 8. Kony Ealy, DE, 9. Joel Bitonio, OG, or 10. Kyle Van Noy, OLB.
Depending on the choice made in the 1st round, I like Nix or Jernigan the most at #36. With a sure need to put the big bodies in the middle to plug up the run gaps and get after the QB, these two are enticing. However, they may be gone before the Raiders select at this pick. Therefore, Hageman would be my next choice. He’s a monster at 6′ 6″ and 310 lbs., and his brute strength allows him to push blockers deep into the pocket. Hageman may be a bit raw, but with players like Justin Tuck, Antonio Smith, Pat Sims, and Lamarr Woodley, he should learn quickly to become dominant in the trenches.