The Phinsider Community Mock Draft: Pick #4 - Oakland Raiders

by Matty I on Mar 19, 2008 11:36 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

With the third pick in The Phinsider Community Mock Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College.

Ryan received 68% of the total vote. Glenn Dorsey was in second place, with 21%.

So now the draft looks like this so far:

Miami Dolphins - Chris Long, DE, Virginia (49%)
St. Louis Rams - Jake Long, OT, Michigan (67%)
Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, BC (68%)

Up next, with the 4th pick, are the Oakland Raiders. For all of your Raider needs, including news and insight, check out Silver and Black Pride. Below are the Raiders' draft needs, according to NFL Draft Countdown:

1. Defensive Line: Depending on where the choose to play Tommy Kelly, who they grossly overpaid for in free agency, they will either need find a stud pass rusher at defensive end or defensive tackle.
2. Offensive Tackle: Either Kwame Harris or second year pro Mario Henderson will hold down the old fort at left tackle (they hope) but Cornell Green leaves much to be desired as the starting right tackle.
3. Wide Receiver: Javon Walker was signed to a huge contract but he has a long history of knee injuries and when you get beyond him and Ronald Curry there is not anything worth getting excited about.

To vote, click on "entry link" to view the poll. The deadline to vote is on Thursday at 11:30 am eastern.

Poll

Who do you THINK the Raiders will select with the 4th overall pick?

Ryan Clady

1 votes

Jeff Otah

2 votes

Glenn Dorsey

91 votes

Sedrick Ellis

37 votes

Vernon Gholston

132 votes

Other (write in comments)

7 votes

Darren McFadden

257 votes

527 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

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Comments

McFadden

That's who I think they take. The Raiders are always a team that likes picking the "sexy" pick and that's McFadden. Everyone will talk about how their future is set at QB and RB for a long time. Fargas is 28, Jordan is 29, and Rhodes is 29 so their backs aren't exactly young.

L. Jordan also only had one great year in his 7 year career. Fargas had a very good year and I think a split between Fargas and McFadden could be deadly. We all know the Raiders like using 2 backs.

by Coolbean04 on Mar 19, 2008 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i've heard

drafting an offensive tackle in the early first round he'll solidify the position for good, yet i see the raiders need two despite drafting robert gallery a few years ago??? was he not as "can't miss" as it gets????? an interesting consideration with all the guarantees that jake long is going to be an all-pro for a decade.

i voted dorsey here though al davis is waaay to crazy to make the logical choice, so who knows...

by buster on Mar 19, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now things get really...

interesting, after all these are the Raiders.

And that generally means they give a long hard look at the latest, greatest, workout warrior/athlete, as opposed to a polished football player.

On paper, it makes sense for them to go after Ellis or Dorsey. They've got a big hole to fill with Warren Sapp's retirement. They could also use help on the offensive line and that makes Clady a possibility.

Still, talking about what makes sense and team needs tends to a bit of an oxymoron when you are discussing the raiders. Raiders-common sense = oil - water!

That leaves McFadden of course. The one potential hurdle here is money. As we all know the raiders are having problems coming up with the money to ink Hall (from Atlanta) - drafting a RB at #4 means more money against the cap than say, drafting a lineman.

Also, yes they resigned Fargas, but it is a comparatively small deal with just several million (<10) guaranteed.

I think they find a way to do it and pick up D-Mac.

by Natalya on Mar 19, 2008 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted for

D-Mac but my second choice would be Gholston.

He's another combine freak/great athlete-type, that Davis loves to have.

by Natalya on Mar 19, 2008 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Raiders

I took McFadden. As much as I wanted to say a DT here, I think re-investing in Jamarcus Russell is the right thing to do. Now I know a LT would make more sense but taking a tackle here over McFadden doesn't make sense to me. If they still had their 2nd round pick this would be great for them. They could get McFadden and maybe a tackle in the 2nd round, but leave it to the Raiders...

Matt

by Matt27 on Mar 19, 2008 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mcfadden

I picked mcfadden cuz i think hes the guy they need to turn this team around for next year.Also with 2 big names like russel ans mcfadden on the offensive side thats gonna bring in alot of fans, The raiders is a team that likes to take chances so why not take 1 when the best player in the draft falls in your hands.................

by lionel on Mar 19, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs