Let’s not fool ourselves. You don’t go through a decade+ of awful football without making some miserable mistakes.

As we’ve come to learn as faithful members of Raider Nation mistakes come in all forms.

So in lieu of the release of Rolando McClain and the hopes of Reggie McKenzie righting this ship here is a breakdown of a decade+ filled with some horrible first round picks.

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

2000 – Sebastian Janikowski, K, Florida State (17^th overall)

Next Pick – QB Chad Pennington (New York Jets 18^th overall)

Comments: Ironically on draft day the Seabass selection was mocked yet he stands out as the best first round pick the Raiders have made in the last 13 years. He’s the all-time leading scorer in franchise history, has booted historically long kicks and is one of the best weapons in all of football. He’s also one of only two first round picks still in Oakland.

2001 – Derrick Gibson, S, Florida State (28^th overall)

Next Pick – DT Ryan Pickett (St. Louis 29^th overall)

Comments: Gibson was your typical Al Davis selection. A DB with athletic ability yet questionable talent. He was out of the league within five years starting just 32 games and registering 3 interceptions. He only played for the Silver and Black never suiting up for another team once his rookie deal expired. Sadly the Raiders missed out on both Reggie Wayne (30^th overall) and Todd Heap (31^st overall) at the end of round one of this draft. I’m guessing those guys could have helped the cause a lot more than Gibson.

2002 – Phillip Buchanon, CB, Miami (17^th overall); Napoleon Harris, LB, Northwestern (23^rd overall)

Next Picks – RB T.J. Duckett (Atlanta 18^th overall); S Ed Reed (Baltimore 24^th overall)

Comments: Harris proved to be the better of Oakland’s two first rounders in ’02 as he became a rookie starting for a defense that made it to the Super Bowl. However his most memorable accomplishment might be becoming a chip cashed in for the Randy Moss trade. As for Buchanon, his mouth made more headlines than his play. He couldn’t cover but did have a knack for making big plays. It’s hard to ignore missing out on future Hall of Famer Ed Reed but it’s almost comical that two receivers drafted between the Buchanon and Harris selections (Ashley Lelie and Javon Walker) both became Raiders eventually any way.

2003 – Nnamdi Asomugha, S, Cal (31^st overall); Tyler Brayton, DE, Colorado (32^nd overall)

Comments: If you’re keeping score the Asomugha selection made it three years running that the Raiders picked a DB in the first round. However unlike those other guys Nnamdi became a stud during his time in Oakland earning the richest contract for a defensive back in league history. Brayton on the other hand never settled in but did go on have a career playing pro ball stepping away from the game after the 2011 season. Of course Brayton is best known as the guy who kneed Mr. Hope Solo in the groin on Monday Night Football. Here is a fun fact for the ’03 draft. Carson Palmer was the top pick. We know where he was playing the last two years…

Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Reggie McKenzie has recently stated that if he had the opportunity to use the Raider’s long lost 17th overall pick, he would’ve chosen Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. This is no surprise as the Raider’s recently lost their top OLB, Kamerion Wimbley. It also makes sense since they will be dabbling with a 3-4 defensive scheme with Allen as the new head coach.

Although Courtney Upshaw would be a perfect fit for the Raider’s new scheme, the problem is we don’t have that pick at number 17 overall. Oakland’s first pick comes at 95th overall, the last pick that will air on your television sets on day 2. So what can we take from McKenzie being quoted on liking Upshaw at 17? He may want to select an OLB with pick number 95. Who can mirror the size, intelligence and tackling ability of the Alabama standout? Probably no one but there are some mid to late round picks that could fill the position for the Raiders. Here are a list of the few players the Raiders may have the opportunity to take at pick #95.

Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia: This guy will most likely fit in playing as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme as opposed to playing as a DE. He posted a quick 40 yard dash of 4.5, about .2 seconds faster than McKenzie’s dream pick, Upshaw. He also has an inch on Upshaw but weighs about 25 pounds less (explaining the difference in speed). This guy is projected to go anywhere from late 2nd round to anywhere in the 3rd round so the chances that he falls in the arms of the Raiders is slim, but possible. I can’t imagine McKenzie and the Raiders passing on this prospect if he was to be there at the end of day 2. Smart and safe pick this late in the draft.

Sean Spence, OLB, Miami: Spence could be the next great linebacker to come out of the U, following in the footsteps of Ray Lewis, D.J. Williams and others. Sean Spence is a guy with very solid leadership qualities, physical ability and a great football IQ. Standing at just under 6’0 and weighing around 230 lbs., he is slightly undersized for an NFL OLB but he makes up for it with his play. Great decision maker, plays sideline to sideline and has a lot of pop on his tackle for his small size.

Bobby Wagner, OLB/ILB, Utah State: Wagner is a physical specimen who runs a 4.46 40 yard dash and had a 39 1/2 inch vertical leap. Very physically strong player with a lot of power behind his tackles but falls into the same size category as Spence at just 6’0 234 lbs. Undersized for an inside linebacker so he will most likely move to a permanent OLB at the next level. Wagner has a lot of developing to do with his football IQ but is a natural tackler and is great in pursuit. He might just be one of those draft gambles that can pay off or leave you burying your head at the craps table.

Overall, I think Irvin would be the best pick for the Raiders if he’s there at 95. Wagner and Spence would also be good pics but may not be ready to start right out of the gate. Reggie has been quoted saying that he will take the best player left on the board regardless of the position, leaving me to think that if Irvin is gone, McKenzie could go after a TE, CB, RB or a number of other positions. I can’t help but wonder if McKenzie is going to stick to his strategy or if his draft day excitement will have him picking by positional need.

Noah K. Murray-US PRESSWIRE

Joey Clinkscales, the Jet’s draft expert and VP of College Scouting will most likely be parting ways with New York following this weekend. The Raiders have had an unorthodox style of drafting over the last half century and Reggie McKenzie is trying to change that by hiring Clinkscales, a teammate of his from his football days at the University of Tennessee.

The Raiders have recently been a hit-or-miss team when it comes to the NFL Draft from shocking 1st round selections such as Darrius Heyward-Bay and Sebastian Janikowski to early 1st round busts such as Robert Gallery and he who shall not be named. Around the league, the Raiders have become the laughing stock of the draft over the last decade. Some of the Raider’s great picks get overlooked by sports analysts because of the more ridiculous picks that they have made over the years. Reggie McKenzie wants to start a new era in Oakland and bringing in talent scout Joey Clinkscales will help the Raiders do just that.

Since hiring Clinkscales as the head of their draft operations, the Jets have been one of the teams more active in trading their picks around to climb the draft board. Oakland is more notorious for trading their draft picks for veterans. Hopefully between McKenzie and Clinkscales, the Raiders will find more of a balance in trading their draft picks…if they do indeed hire him.

Clinkscales is not just a talent scout and draft expert. He is considered by some teams to be GM worthy. Earlier this year he interviewed to be the next Rams GM but they decided to go separate ways. I like the fact that he was considered for a GM position even though his move to the Raiders would be lateral. It would be intriguing to have the Raiders going from having no formal general manager to having a GM and another GM worthy candidate working together.

Having Clinkscales on our staff would give Reggie McKenzie less to deal with while still having constant focus on prospects. It would also give our organization a fresh outlook on the NFL Draft from someone who has proven himself in this department. Possibly another solid move from Reggie!