Team needs: Wide Receiver, Offensive Line, Running back, Defensive Line

Raiders’ selections

Round 1- 4^th overall

Round 2- 35^th overall

Round 3- 68th overall

Round 4- 102nd overall

Round 5- 140th overall

Round 6- 179^th overall

Round 7 –221st overall

Good fits early:

Amari Cooper: Alabama’s Amari Cooper seemed to be the consensus best receiver in the draft until Kevin White ran a 4.35 – 40 at the combine. It’s amazing that we haven’t figured out by now that speed just isn’t that important at the receiver position. Yup, I said it. The greatest receiver in the history of the NFL, Jerry Rice, wasn’t that fast, and if you’re talking about speedsters today, names like Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green won’t come to mind. Fast is great, but it’s not nearly as important as route running or catching ability when it comes to NFL football. That’s why Cooper is the best receiver in the NFL draft, and it’s why he’s the best fit for an Oakland Raiders team that desperately needs to get Derek Carr some help.

Leonard Williams: Perhaps that last sentence should have read, Cooper is the best fit for the Raiders if USC defensive end Leonard Williams isn’t available. Williams may be the best player in this draft, and if there wasn’t such a premium on the quarterback position, he’d have a real chance at going first overall. While nobody should ever be compared to Reggie White, the fact that some have uttered his name while talking about Williams shows just how intriguing Williams’ abilities are to NFL clubs. Williams can play inside and out on the defensive line, and is as good with his hands as just about any guy you’ll find coming out of college. Carr needs some weapons on the offensive side of the ball, but if Williams gets past Jacksonville at three, Carr may have to wait until round-2 to get one.

Dante Fowler: Ok, so maybe Amari Cooper is the only offensive weapon worthy of the Raiders first-round selection. While Leonard Williams might just be the best player in the NFL Draft, Florida’s Dante Fowler may be the best pure pass rusher in the draft. The Raiders pass rush leaves a lot to be desired, and Fowler would be a fantastic pick to sure up the front-4. At this moment, Justin Tuck is probably the only end in Oakland that you’d recognize, and he’s, well…old.

Don’t be surprised if the Raiders shock you at some point in the draft. Sure, Al Davis isn’t around anymore, and the Raiders had themselves a very successful draft in 2014, but does any of that give you a ton of confidence in Reggie McKenzie?

While the Raiders had a very good draft a year ago, McKenzie’s decision making during the free agency period the last couple of years has to leave you scratching your head. It seems like almost a yearly occurrence that the Raiders draft someone that just about every analyst had going rounds later, and there’s no reason to believe that trend will change.

Also, while Cooper or one of the ends should be their first-round pick, don’t be shocked if the Raiders select Kevin White. There doesn’t seem to be the same ridiculous emphasis on speed that there once was in the Raiders organization, but when you consider Oakland has James Jones and Michael Crabtree on the outside right now, an infusion of speed at the receiver position is needed.

Potential late-round targets:

Rashad Greene: Some are concerned that Rashad Greene may not be big enough for the NFL, or that he’s not fast enough for a guy his size, but Greene caught everything for Jameis Winston at Florida State, and David Carr sure could use a guy like that in Oakland. The size concerns for Greene may cause him to slide further than his talent would typically have allowed because of the amazing depth at the position in this year’s draft. Greene could just end up being a steal for someone, so why not a team like the Raiders, who could address the position more than once this weekend?

Akeem Hunt: Oakland needs talent, depth and versatility at the running back position, and Purdue Boilermaker Akeem Hunt could be a great fit for the team late. Hunt is a speedy back who’s also very adept at catching the ball, and some teams believe he’ll be able to be split out wide as well. For a Raiders team that needs guys who can tote the rock and catch the football, Hunt is an intriguing player because he can do both. The Raiders may look to pick up a back much earlier than this, but if they decide to look at the position late, it wouldn’t be surprise to see them look at Hunt.

Za’Darius Smith: For a team like the Raiders who may select more than one pass rusher in the upcoming draft, a player like Kentucky’s Za’Darius Smith could be a great fit. Smith will likely be available in rounds four through six, but could be a real steal for someone if he develops the way some think he could. Smith shouldn’t be expected to step in and contribute at a high level immediately, because the young man has a ton to learn about the position. Smith didn’t play football until his senior year of high school, so he’s as raw as they get, but his performance at the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl should have given teams an indication that the young man is coachable.

For the Raiders draft to be a success, it comes down to two things, weapons and pass rushers. Carr showed a ton of promise during his rookie campaign last season, but if the Raiders want him to progress and succeed, they need to get him some weapons. Jones and Crabtree are nice players, but they need someone explosive at the receiver position, and there’s not a lot to get excited about in the backfield either.

Defensively Oakland has to find a way to get better up front. Justin Tuck has had a great career, but at this stage of his career, he’s too long in the tooth to be anybody’s best pass rusher. The Raiders are doing some good things, and for the first time in what seems like forever, they actually seem to have some direction, but if they can’t find some weapons on offense and a pass rush on defense, it will likely be another top-5 selection for the team again next season.