With the 2023 NFL Draft just around the corner, many in Raider Nation are reminded of just how bad the Raiders have done in years prior when it comes to picking talent. The Raiders have only had a handful of picks over the last 20 years that would be considered a success and very few of them came in the first round, where your franchis-changing talent is usually found.
Whether it comes to drafting players outside the box or for certain characteristics like how fast they are, the Raiders have tried their hand at many strategies over the years. Where the late Al Davis once shined in his ability to spot talent, it seems the franchise has since struggled at the highest level to put together good picks consistantly, let alone an overall draft class that graded out mostly good three years down the road.
Some of the biggest blunders though are not only on the players themselves who were busts, but the players who were taken after them that the Raiders could have had. Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20, but there is a staggering amount of times the Raiders selected a player in the first round, while the player taken directly after him turned his playing days into a Hall of Fame career.
That's why, without further ado, I give you my Top-5 draft misses in Raiders history.
Looking back at the Raiders Top-5 NFL Draft misses of all time
5. DE Jihad Ward - 44th Overall in 2016
The Raiders drafted defensive end Jihad Ward out of Illinois 44th overall in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was 6-5 297 lbs coming out of the NFL Combine and many analyst said he was very mobile for a player his size. Most agreed though that he would be a project of sorts and would need some time to not only fine tune his game, but solidify whether he'd play on the inside or outside of the defensive line.
In July of 2017, it was revealed that he had surgery on his left foot after injuring it during a workout, putting him out of action until August. In two seasons with the Raiders, Ward had a total of 21 games played, only 14 of which he started. He finished his career in Oakland only amassing 32 total tackles and 1 sack as well.
Ward was ultimately traded to the Dallas Cowboys where he was reunited with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who coached him in the Senior Bowl in 2016. He bounced around to a few different teams before ulitmately landing with the NY Giants where currently plays today.
The player drafted directly after Ward was running back Derrick Henry who was taken 45th overall by the Tennessee Titans. Henry has put himself in the NFL rushing record books on numerous occasions, one of which joining a list of only eight players to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a single season.
Looking back at the Raiders Top-5 NFL Draft misses of all time
4. LB Napoleon Harris - 23rd Overall in 2002
Napoleon Harris was a linebacker out of Northwestern that the Oakland Raiders took 23rd Overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. That so happened to be the year the Raiders would go on to be waxxed by the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl, led by recently traded head coach Jon Gruden, but that's for a different article.
Coming out of college, Harris was 6-3, 253 lbs and ran a 4.55 second 40-yard dash. He was 2x second team All-Big Ten on 2000 and 2001 and was rated the best linebacker in his class. The Raiders, drafting him as the first linebacker off the board at 23rd overall, also believed in that sentiment.
There was a shimmer of hope for him after his first year in the league as he was selected to the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie team.
But Harris' career with the Raiders was the farthest thing from hopeful when it all ended. He totaled 249 tackles and 2.5 sacks over a three year span with Oakland. He will most notably go down as the player named in the blockbuster trade that sent Randy Moss from Minnesota to Oakland in 2005 along with some draft picks.
The player drafted directly after Harris at 24th overall was Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed, who was taken by the Baltimore Ravens and went on to be one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history.
Looking back at the Raiders Top-5 NFL Draft misses of all time
3. DE Clelin Ferrell - 4th Overall in 2019
Defensive end Clelin Ferrell will go down as the most recent draft bust everyone points to in the same vein as the number one selection on this list. The Raiders were fresh off of trading All-Galaxy LB Khalil Mack away, so the team was looking for that next guy to take over and turn the page on a decision that still haunts Raider Nation.
Coming out of Clemson, he was part of one of the more dominant defensive lines college had seen in a while. He was part of a three headed monster that included DT Christian Wilkins who was taken 13th overall by the Dolphins and DT Dexter Lawrence who was taken 17th overall by the Giants.
The funny thing about Ferrell's career with the Raiders is that it wasn't devastatingly short like other players on this list. As a first round pick, his four year contract came with a 5th year option that the Raiders had a choice to pick up or not. Plain and simple, they didn't. Ferrell's four years with the Raiders was all about hoping he was going to evolve into what everyone expected out of him. He finished with 105 total tackles and 10 total sacks over a span of 58 games played.
The player drafted directly after Ferrell was LSU linebacker Devin White who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 5th overall. White went on to win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay and is widely regarded as the poster child for the "new age" linebacker who can play sideline to sideline. Something the Raiders have so desperately needed for a long time.
Looking back at the Raiders Top-5 NFL Draft misses of all time
2. CB Fabian Washington - 23rd Overall in 2005
Fabian Washington was drafted 23rd overall in the 2005 NFL Draft as a cornerback out of University of Nebraska. Remember the remarks earlier about drafting a player because of how fast he was? This was one of those times. Now a days it seems somewhat common place, but back then someone running a 4.29 second 40-yard dash was a sight to be seen.
The Raiders were in a position where 7 year veteran Charles Woodson missed the last three weeks of the 2004 season with a leg injury while playing on the franchise tag. Woodson would then go to get franchise tagged again, before breaking his leg after six games and ending his season. Once again, like Ferrell, the Raiders had looked to use their premium draft pick to usher in a replacement for the new era.
Washington's career as a Raider was mediocre at best. Over a 45 game span, he only had 123 total tackles and 5 interceptions. After acquiring DeAngelo Hall, the Raiders started shopping Washington and just three years after drafting him 23rd overall, they traded him to the Baltimore Ravens for a 4th round pick.
The player drafted directly after Fabian was Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 24th overall. Rodgers won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011 and will go down as a first ballot hall of famer when his career is all said and done.
Looking back at the Raiders Top-5 NFL Draft misses of all time
1. QB Jamarcus Russell - 1st Overall in 2007
Ah yes, you knew this one was coming. It is and always will be the biggest fumble of company funds in Raiders history. There isn't enough characters in the world that can be typed to explain why this was such a bad miss by the Raiders. This by far takes the cake for players who boondoggled their way to Oakland simply from one excitable feature.
Jamarcus Russell jumped on the scene after a few sensational games to end his college career at LSU, one being the National Championship game. He went 21/34 for 332 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT in a game where they put a whooping on Brady Quinn and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Watching him sling the football around the field was quite the sight to be seen. He wow'd people with his arm talent and ability, very famously being known to throw the ball 70 yards from his knees.
After the Raiders drafted him 1st overall, it was all downhill from there. Russell had a string of off the field issues along with some in house problems as well. All that while posting some of the worst stats that have ever been had by a former 1st overall pick. Jamarcus ended his career with the Raiders having played 31 games and passing for 4,800 yards, 18 TD and 23 INT on a meesly 52.1 completion percentage.
The Player taken directly after Russell was Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson who was drafted by the Detriot Lions at 2nd overall. To add insult to injury, the 3rd overall pick to the Cleveland Browns wound up being another Hall of Fame player in offensive tackle Joe Thomas.
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