With the 2019 NFL draft complete, it is time to look back and gauge how the Oakland Raiders fared. They entered the draft with a plethora of premium picks and the opportunity to significantly improve their roster. Nobody truly knows how this class will grade out for at least three or four years, but it’s worth analyzing now.
Every expert has their opinion on every pick, so here are my thoughts.
NOTE: The player I would have chosen is based on how the board actually played out. For example, selecting at 1.24 is based on the Raiders selecting Ferrell at 1.4 despite Ferrell not being the player I would have chosen there.
1.4 Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
Ferrell began the draft season as a projected top-five or 10 pick. His star didn’t necessarily fade throughout the draft process, but others seem to catch and pass him as a prospect. He really is a do-it-all defensive end. He is not great in any one aspect of the position, but he’s well above average at everything.
Ferrell shows well holding the edge, he can get after the passer, he has a strong arsenal of counter moves, is a smart player who quickly diagnoses plays, and is a true leader. All of that screams “excellent pick.”
The problem is that most Raiders fans wanted some flash with this pick. Kentucky EDGE Josh Allen has the athleticism and big-play chops. Ed Oliver has the freakish inside strength and pass-rush ability. Quinnen Williams may have been the best player in the draft. Devin White is one of the best linebacker prospects to enter the league in years.
But it may be Ferrell who has the highest floor of this group of potential Raiders targets. The Raiders front office may look back at this pick and view themselves as geniuses or goats. I lean to calling this a good pick but think this may have been a reach. There is a legitimate chance that Ferrell could have been available with their next pick.
GRADE: B
Player I would have chosen: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
1.24 Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
This was a pick that almost every expert had pegged. The Raiders seemed infatuated with Jacobs for nearly the entire draft process. He was clearly the best running back in the draft. He was also the runner with the least amount of mileage on his tires, which is a tremendous advantage for the Silver and Black.
Running backs simply do not last at the NFL level. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but most can’t handle the wear and tear of being gang tackled by 300-plus pound defensive linemen upwards of 10 times per week.
The fact that he was the lesser part of a committee at Alabama worked to his advantage throughout the draft process. But, was taking a tailback at this juncture the smart move? Traditional logic says no.
Kareem Hunt, Le’Veon Bell, Dalvin Cook, LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Marlon Mack, Aaron Jones, Kerryon Johnson, David Johnson, Philip Lindsey, Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb, and Chris Carson are a list of active tailbacks who have made a big impact at the NFL level while being selected after Day 1.
I simply do not think there is enough value with taking this position this early. The gap between Jacobs, Darrell Henderson, Miles Sanders, and others was not great enough for this selection.
GRADE: C
Player I would have taken: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
1.27 Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Abram was a little bit of a polarizing player entering this draft. I had him with a third-round grade, which was a lot lower than most experts. He absolutely is a lightning rod of a player, excelling at getting downhill with speed and bringing the lumber with massive hits.
However, I believe his best position is as a box safety playing near the line of scrimmage, which is a position that is becoming less and less prevalent in today’s NFL. He shows some ability to play the nickel, but I wouldn’t rely on him against most slot receivers in man coverage. He can get a little tight in the hips, and his transitions in and out of breaks aren’t the cleanest I’ve seen for the position. I think he can be exposed in that role.
Karl Joseph has been an average player and certainly can be upgraded upon at the strong safety position, but I don’t think Abram is enough of an upgrade to use a first round pick on.
There were better options available at this slot. In fact, I had several safeties ranked ahead of Abram (Nasir Adderley, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Darnell Savage, Marquise Blair, Juan Thornhill, Taylor Rapp, Amani Hooker, Deionte Thompson). Some of them did not fit for Oakland to pair with newly signed Lamarcus Joyner, but I would have waited to draft a safety later.
GRADE: B-
Who I would have taken: Dalton Risner, G/T, Kansas State
2.8 (40th overall) Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
The Raiders traded down with the Jaguars and landed Mullen. Statistically speaking, Mullen was one of the best corners in this draft. It was darn near impossible to create big plays against him last season. He’s also one of the “toolsiest” corners in this draft class.
He’s 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, which is just about optimal. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine. He also has fluid hips and great change-of-direction ability. He showed great footwork and has the patience to not escape his backpedal too early.
The talent and upside are obvious. Mullen must get stronger, however. In an attacking, press-man defense, he could struggle early in his career. He does not diagnose routes that quickly in off-man coverage and seems limited to man schemes early on, which is not a huge problem. His tackling is also questionable, and he may not be overly aggressive in run support.
Overall, he has shutdown corner upside, and this pick could turn out to be the best of the “premium” selections for the Silver and Black.
GRADE: B+
Who I would have taken: Irv Smith Jr, TE, Alabama
4.4 (106th overall) Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Eastern Michigan
Crosby is a high-effort pass rusher that dominated at a lower level of competition. He has excellent size for an edge rusher at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds and adequate agility to go with it.
He wins more with a relentless motor and straight-line speed than he does with technique and counter moves. He doesn’t possess the ideal strength to be an every-down player. He will struggle with the brute strength most offensive tackles possess.
GRADE: B-
Who I would have taken: Dru Samia, G, Oklahoma
4.27 (129th overall) Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston
Johnson is another big corner at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds. He is a converted wide receiver who is still learning the position but has shown plenty in his short time on the defensive side of the ball.
He has long arms, but his calling card is his speed. He blazed a 4.4-flat at the combine and jumped 36.5 inches. The athleticism and agility were there at the combine, but it didn’t always show on tape. He is best deployed in a press scheme, but may not have the chops for straight man coverage, at least early on.
Johnson is a bit of a project, but the pick makes sense after selecting Mullen earlier on.
GRADE: B
Who I would have taken: Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
4.35 (137th overall) Foster Moreau, TE, LSU
Moreau was one of the toughest players in the draft to peg. He has decent size for the position at 6-4 and 253 pounds. But he has excellent speed that should play well.
The problem was the alarming lack of usage at the collegiate level. A player with his measurables should have been much more of a weapon. While that is not the be-all-end-all for projecting productivity, you would undoubtedly feel more comfortable if LSU at least attempted to feed him more consistently.
Still, the upside is there, and there is a path to early playing time after the departure of Jared Cook to the Saints.
GRADE: B-
Who I would have taken: Charles Omenihu, EDGE, Texas
5.11 (149th overall) Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson
Renfrow may have tiny hands, but the absolutely soak up everything thrown at him. The diminutive receiver (5-foot-10) is not exactly the best athlete, but he makes the most of everything. He understands how to set up his routes, is excellent in and out of breaks, and is tough as nails. He is fearless working in any area of the field.
Despite falling to the fifth round, Renfrow has a clear path to early playing time, as long as he can get on the same page as Derek Carr. I would expect Renfrow to play in most three-wide sets, even as a rookie, given his ability to find holes in zones and/or defeat man coverage with his short area quickness.
GRADE: A-
Who I would have taken: Hunter Renfrow
7.16 (230 overall) Quinton Bell, EDGE, Prairie View
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a ton about Bell when this selection was made. I hadn’t seen a ton of film on him, but what was available showed a player worth taking a gamble on. He’s one of those rarely seen EDGE defenders that converted from … wide receiver!? He really needs to get stronger. He weighed in at 220 pounds, despite being 6-foot-4.
With that being said, he clearly has the agility, burst, and bend to eventually make an impact as a situational pass rusher. He should not be anywhere near the field in base sets, especially early on, as he simply doesn’t possess the strength to hold up against the run.
But, with a year on the practice squad and in the weight room, he could crack the 53-man roster in Year 2. In Rounds 6 and 7, you have to take chances on athletic profiles and hope you can teach them the nuances of football, and Bell is one of those perfect gambles.
GRADE: B
Who I would have taken: Dillon Mitchell, WR, Oregon
Overall, I think the Raiders did well in the draft. I think Ferrell and Jacobs were reaches, but they will contribute early on at positions of need (Jacobs even more than originally thought after Isaiah Crowell tore is Achilles).
The players selected in the later rounds all have a real chance of making an impact, some earlier than others. I did not like how Day 1 of the draft played out for a team with three picks in the first round, but general manager Mike Mayock, head coach Jon Gruden, and the rest of the front office must be pleased with the reinforcements they’ve added.
I’d give the class an overall grade of B-, with a legitimate chance for more. But who really knows? Nobody, that’s who. At least not for another three years.
