UnknownCoach
Footballguy
Updated team needs heading into draft. I'll use a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being of huge importance and 10 meaning the team doesnt need to add anybody at that position.
QB 2 - We need to find our franchise QB (again) after giving away Carson Palmer. There is some hope that Matt Flynn or Terrell Pryor will become that guy but we need to add another competitor until we finally come up with one guy who we can say for sure is our QB going forward. Flynn and Pryor have only appeared in a handful of NFL games over the course of their careers.
Possible Quality targets: Matt Barkley, Geno Smith, Tyler Wilson, E.J. Manuel, Tyler Bray - Since its starting to look like we'll be using a west coast passing attack again, Barkley and Wilson are good targets, especially if we can trade down from our #3 overall position. I consider Barkley the most NFL ready prospect who could start from week 1. Smith and Manuel have more athleticism while Bray is a project who could be drafted later.
RB 4 - We have our starters in McFadden and Reece but we need to upgrade the depth badly if Jones is switched to CB. Even if Jones stays at RB, we need to find a bowling ball RB to help run off the clock and keep McFadden healthier. Jeremy Stewart is not the answer.
Possible Quality Targets: Marcus Lattimore, Le'Veon Bell - I chose two guys who could be gotten in the middle rounds with real potential as power runners. People have called Lattimore a Michael Bush pick because like Bush he was a first round talent prior to an injury that might set him back his first season.
WR 4 - Even after releasing DHB we still have 4 nice prospects on the team. Yet none of them is a proven reliable starter at this point. This draft is very deep at WR though and I'd be really surprised if we didnt take advantage of that.
Possible Quality Targets: Robert Woods, Justin Hunter, Terrance Williams, Da'Rick Rogers,
Aaron Dobson, Aaron Mellette - If we are going with Matt Flynn as our QB, we need to find a guy with the right combination of size and speed to thrive in a west coast system. If we can somehow trade down and draft QB Barkley, it would make sense to also try to draft teammate Woods.
TE 2 - We have a glaring need for a starter but TE isnt a hugely important position. Our current depth isnt bad.
Possible Quality Targets: Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Gavin Escobar, Dion Sims - I actually hope we dont draft a TE. I do really like Kelce but he's a possible problem child who the new Oakland Regime might decide to avoid.
C 8 - We have a solid starter and a servicable backup. We still could go this route and potentially move Wisniewski back to LG where the need is bigger.
Possible Quality Targets: Barrett Jones, Brian Schwenke - I chose two guys who could probably start at either guard or center at the NFL level.
G 5 - The big question is what position do they want Bergstrom to compete at for a starting job at. If its LG then I dont think we need another guard. Our depth is sufficient enough with Nix and Parsons. If its RT Bergstrom competes at then we should add a guard. That wont be an issue if we actually draft the guy I most want in this draft... Chance Warmack. After guaranteeing Brisiel a roster spot and resigning Barnes, I expect we'll just stick to the guys we already have and maybe add a tackle prospect instead.
Possible Quality Targets: Chance Warmack, DJ Fluker, Jonathon Cooper, Larry Warford - Warmack, Fluker, and Warford are big power blocking animals that could start for us this season. Yes I put Fluker here because I'm not sure he can be successful playing tackle in the NFL. Cooper is more athletic and at least a good pass blocker but might make more sense for a zone blocking team.
OT 3 - Again it depends on where they let Bergstom compete at. If Bergstrom starts at LG then we need competition at RT and backup LT. If Berstrom competes at RT, we could still add competition for the backup LT position.
Possible Quality Targets: Luke Joekel, Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson, Menelik Watson, Kyle Long, Chris Faulk, Ricky Wagner, Braden Brown. - I created a list with some early round guys who could start for us right away at RT and some late round guys who could solve our depth problem. While it doesnt make a whole lot of sense to address RT at the third overall pick, Joekel or Fisher could be the best available player on the board.
DT/NT 2 - We have Chris Sims who might be serviceable replacing Kelly but he has only a one year contract. It would be best if Sims was a rotational player with a new starter capable of playing either DT position. Our defense really needs a big powerful DT. Fortunately this draft is nice and deep and we can get a good prospect here even in the middle rounds.
Possible Quality Targets: Star Lotulelei, Sylvestor Williams, Jonathon Hankins, Jesse Williams, John Jenkins, Brandon Williams - That's an attractive list. Lotulelei would be a good use of our first round pick if we cant trade down. It might be wiser though to wait and see if one of these guys falls to us in the third round even if we cant trade down.
DT/DE 3 - Walker and Bilukidi should be able to replace Bryant but its a big dropoff from Richard Seymour. We do have Houston which helps but he should continue to play primarily at DE.
Possible Quality Targets: Sharrif Floyd, Sheldon Richardson, Kawann Short, Datone Jones - While the list isnt as deep, a lot of guys on the DT/NT list can play this position whether the defense is 4-3 or 3-4.
DE 9 - I expect Houston to continue to start at DE and then rotate inside. We could use some competition for project Crawford.
Possible Quality Targets: N/A I listed all the pass rushing DEs with the pass rushing OLBs even if they were more pure DEs. The remaining DEs are listed in the DT/DE section. The more pure DEs would be guys like Werner, Ansah, Carradine, Hunt, and Okafor. Since I expect Houston to continue to start at DE and we dont know the base scheme yet, it made sense to keep the outside pass rushers all together.
DE/OLB 1 - I'm surprised we havent resigned Andre Carter yet. We did sign hunter to a one year deal but we need to upgrade really badly. I could potentially see Burris as our starting pass rusher if we use a 3-4 base and dont go this direction in the draft.
Possible Quality Targets: Barkevious Mingo, Jarvis Jones, Dion Jordan, Bjoern Werner, Damontre Moore, Ezekiel Ansah, Cornellius Carradine, Margus Hunt, Alex Okafor, Sam Montgomery, Corey Lemonier, Brandon Jenkins, Chase Thomas - Big list for a position of big need.
OLB 10 - We appear set. Both Burnett brothers, Roach, and probably Burris can all play on the strongside. Maiava, Kevin Burnett, and Burris can all play on the weakside. If we end up with a 3-4 base we might add someone else for depth and special teams but its not a concern. Most of your 3-4 prospect targets were included at the pass rusher position (DE/OLB).
MLB/ILB 7 - It appears they want Roach to start here but I dont expect to really find out until training camp. Burris and Maiava are also candidates to move inside and Roach is more experienced on the strongside. One or two of them will start inside so its more a question of who will be the backup and do we use a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme? In a 4-3 one of the OLBs could backup both the middle and outside like Gaither did last year. I'd rather add another ILB for depth either way. Goethel is still around but he only looks like a camp body after ending up on IR in his first 3 seasons.
Possible Quality Targets: AJ Klein, Jonathon Stewart - With three 6th round picks and one 7th, we could target someone late to add depth.
SS 6 - Branch is one of the few guys still signed to long term contracts. We need to replace his backup Mike Mitchell. More of a factor if we like to use 3 safeties on the field at the same time. Less if we dont.
Possible Quality Targets: JJ Wilcox, Earl Wolf, Robert Lester - Its unlikely we use anything but a late round pick here unless maybe we trade for more first day picks.
FS 2 - Yes we lost our starter but the FS position just isnt as important as some of the other positions of need. Ross or Chekwa can possibly claim the backup job and there is still the chance to resign Giordano. I'd rather address other positions in this draft.
Possible Quality Targets: Kenny Vaccaro, Eric Reid, TJ McDonald, Baccari Rambo, Phillip Thomas -I listed the highest ranked prospects. Better to sign a FA.
CB 1 - We finally signed someone with experience in Porter but it was just another one year deal. CB is still the Raider's top need. This draft is deep but I'm less concerned with our depth than finding a solid starter and slot corner. If Jones converts to CB he might end up winning the slot position.
Possible Quality Targets: Dee Milliner, Xavier Rhodes, DJ Hayden, Desmond Trufant, Johnathon Banks, David Amerson, Jamar Taylor, Darrius Slay, Tyrann Mathieu, Jordan Poyer, Logan Ryan, Robert Alford, Terry Hawthorn, Leon McFadden, Logan Ryan, Dwayne Gratz, Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Will Davis. - The draft is even deeper than this for at least a slot corner. We could end up seeing 6 or more rookie CBs starting this year.
ST 8 - We need to replace Lechler. The most likely replacement is already on the roster. I cant see spending a draft pick when we need so many players. So I wont even bother with targets.
QB 2 - We need to find our franchise QB (again) after giving away Carson Palmer. There is some hope that Matt Flynn or Terrell Pryor will become that guy but we need to add another competitor until we finally come up with one guy who we can say for sure is our QB going forward. Flynn and Pryor have only appeared in a handful of NFL games over the course of their careers.
Possible Quality targets: Matt Barkley, Geno Smith, Tyler Wilson, E.J. Manuel, Tyler Bray - Since its starting to look like we'll be using a west coast passing attack again, Barkley and Wilson are good targets, especially if we can trade down from our #3 overall position. I consider Barkley the most NFL ready prospect who could start from week 1. Smith and Manuel have more athleticism while Bray is a project who could be drafted later.
RB 4 - We have our starters in McFadden and Reece but we need to upgrade the depth badly if Jones is switched to CB. Even if Jones stays at RB, we need to find a bowling ball RB to help run off the clock and keep McFadden healthier. Jeremy Stewart is not the answer.
Possible Quality Targets: Marcus Lattimore, Le'Veon Bell - I chose two guys who could be gotten in the middle rounds with real potential as power runners. People have called Lattimore a Michael Bush pick because like Bush he was a first round talent prior to an injury that might set him back his first season.
WR 4 - Even after releasing DHB we still have 4 nice prospects on the team. Yet none of them is a proven reliable starter at this point. This draft is very deep at WR though and I'd be really surprised if we didnt take advantage of that.
Possible Quality Targets: Robert Woods, Justin Hunter, Terrance Williams, Da'Rick Rogers,
Aaron Dobson, Aaron Mellette - If we are going with Matt Flynn as our QB, we need to find a guy with the right combination of size and speed to thrive in a west coast system. If we can somehow trade down and draft QB Barkley, it would make sense to also try to draft teammate Woods.
TE 2 - We have a glaring need for a starter but TE isnt a hugely important position. Our current depth isnt bad.
Possible Quality Targets: Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Gavin Escobar, Dion Sims - I actually hope we dont draft a TE. I do really like Kelce but he's a possible problem child who the new Oakland Regime might decide to avoid.
C 8 - We have a solid starter and a servicable backup. We still could go this route and potentially move Wisniewski back to LG where the need is bigger.
Possible Quality Targets: Barrett Jones, Brian Schwenke - I chose two guys who could probably start at either guard or center at the NFL level.
G 5 - The big question is what position do they want Bergstrom to compete at for a starting job at. If its LG then I dont think we need another guard. Our depth is sufficient enough with Nix and Parsons. If its RT Bergstrom competes at then we should add a guard. That wont be an issue if we actually draft the guy I most want in this draft... Chance Warmack. After guaranteeing Brisiel a roster spot and resigning Barnes, I expect we'll just stick to the guys we already have and maybe add a tackle prospect instead.
Possible Quality Targets: Chance Warmack, DJ Fluker, Jonathon Cooper, Larry Warford - Warmack, Fluker, and Warford are big power blocking animals that could start for us this season. Yes I put Fluker here because I'm not sure he can be successful playing tackle in the NFL. Cooper is more athletic and at least a good pass blocker but might make more sense for a zone blocking team.
OT 3 - Again it depends on where they let Bergstom compete at. If Bergstrom starts at LG then we need competition at RT and backup LT. If Berstrom competes at RT, we could still add competition for the backup LT position.
Possible Quality Targets: Luke Joekel, Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson, Menelik Watson, Kyle Long, Chris Faulk, Ricky Wagner, Braden Brown. - I created a list with some early round guys who could start for us right away at RT and some late round guys who could solve our depth problem. While it doesnt make a whole lot of sense to address RT at the third overall pick, Joekel or Fisher could be the best available player on the board.
DT/NT 2 - We have Chris Sims who might be serviceable replacing Kelly but he has only a one year contract. It would be best if Sims was a rotational player with a new starter capable of playing either DT position. Our defense really needs a big powerful DT. Fortunately this draft is nice and deep and we can get a good prospect here even in the middle rounds.
Possible Quality Targets: Star Lotulelei, Sylvestor Williams, Jonathon Hankins, Jesse Williams, John Jenkins, Brandon Williams - That's an attractive list. Lotulelei would be a good use of our first round pick if we cant trade down. It might be wiser though to wait and see if one of these guys falls to us in the third round even if we cant trade down.
DT/DE 3 - Walker and Bilukidi should be able to replace Bryant but its a big dropoff from Richard Seymour. We do have Houston which helps but he should continue to play primarily at DE.
Possible Quality Targets: Sharrif Floyd, Sheldon Richardson, Kawann Short, Datone Jones - While the list isnt as deep, a lot of guys on the DT/NT list can play this position whether the defense is 4-3 or 3-4.
DE 9 - I expect Houston to continue to start at DE and then rotate inside. We could use some competition for project Crawford.
Possible Quality Targets: N/A I listed all the pass rushing DEs with the pass rushing OLBs even if they were more pure DEs. The remaining DEs are listed in the DT/DE section. The more pure DEs would be guys like Werner, Ansah, Carradine, Hunt, and Okafor. Since I expect Houston to continue to start at DE and we dont know the base scheme yet, it made sense to keep the outside pass rushers all together.
DE/OLB 1 - I'm surprised we havent resigned Andre Carter yet. We did sign hunter to a one year deal but we need to upgrade really badly. I could potentially see Burris as our starting pass rusher if we use a 3-4 base and dont go this direction in the draft.
Possible Quality Targets: Barkevious Mingo, Jarvis Jones, Dion Jordan, Bjoern Werner, Damontre Moore, Ezekiel Ansah, Cornellius Carradine, Margus Hunt, Alex Okafor, Sam Montgomery, Corey Lemonier, Brandon Jenkins, Chase Thomas - Big list for a position of big need.
OLB 10 - We appear set. Both Burnett brothers, Roach, and probably Burris can all play on the strongside. Maiava, Kevin Burnett, and Burris can all play on the weakside. If we end up with a 3-4 base we might add someone else for depth and special teams but its not a concern. Most of your 3-4 prospect targets were included at the pass rusher position (DE/OLB).
MLB/ILB 7 - It appears they want Roach to start here but I dont expect to really find out until training camp. Burris and Maiava are also candidates to move inside and Roach is more experienced on the strongside. One or two of them will start inside so its more a question of who will be the backup and do we use a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme? In a 4-3 one of the OLBs could backup both the middle and outside like Gaither did last year. I'd rather add another ILB for depth either way. Goethel is still around but he only looks like a camp body after ending up on IR in his first 3 seasons.
Possible Quality Targets: AJ Klein, Jonathon Stewart - With three 6th round picks and one 7th, we could target someone late to add depth.
SS 6 - Branch is one of the few guys still signed to long term contracts. We need to replace his backup Mike Mitchell. More of a factor if we like to use 3 safeties on the field at the same time. Less if we dont.
Possible Quality Targets: JJ Wilcox, Earl Wolf, Robert Lester - Its unlikely we use anything but a late round pick here unless maybe we trade for more first day picks.
FS 2 - Yes we lost our starter but the FS position just isnt as important as some of the other positions of need. Ross or Chekwa can possibly claim the backup job and there is still the chance to resign Giordano. I'd rather address other positions in this draft.
Possible Quality Targets: Kenny Vaccaro, Eric Reid, TJ McDonald, Baccari Rambo, Phillip Thomas -I listed the highest ranked prospects. Better to sign a FA.
CB 1 - We finally signed someone with experience in Porter but it was just another one year deal. CB is still the Raider's top need. This draft is deep but I'm less concerned with our depth than finding a solid starter and slot corner. If Jones converts to CB he might end up winning the slot position.
Possible Quality Targets: Dee Milliner, Xavier Rhodes, DJ Hayden, Desmond Trufant, Johnathon Banks, David Amerson, Jamar Taylor, Darrius Slay, Tyrann Mathieu, Jordan Poyer, Logan Ryan, Robert Alford, Terry Hawthorn, Leon McFadden, Logan Ryan, Dwayne Gratz, Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Will Davis. - The draft is even deeper than this for at least a slot corner. We could end up seeing 6 or more rookie CBs starting this year.
ST 8 - We need to replace Lechler. The most likely replacement is already on the roster. I cant see spending a draft pick when we need so many players. So I wont even bother with targets.
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