Oakland Raiders: An Unusual 2012 Mock Draft

Free Agency is in full swing and the Oakland Raiders have yet to sign anyone. With needs at cornerback, the Raiders stood in the background and let Cortland Finnegan and Brandon Carr sign with other teams. Other big names have signed as well, which makes you wonder what the Raiders have up their sleeve to help them reach the playoffs in 2012.

While some fans choose to panic, I am encouraging my fellow Raider fans not to. The free agents the Raiders have been linked to may not be flashy names, but are more than capable. General Manager Reggie McKenzie will craft the Raiders into his team.

A bigger concern for Oakland is the NFL draft. With almost no picks until later rounds, how do the Raiders plan for the future, which is McKenzie's philosophy. McKenzie was recommended for this job by his mentor Ron Wolf for his talent for talent evaluation. Raider fans will know if McKenzie is worthy of the adoration as he tries to find some diamonds in the rough.

Oakland is expected to get at least two and maybe four compensatory picks. The picks should be pretty high as well considering the Raiders lost three of the top fifteen ranked free agents in 2011.

This mock draft will play it conservative and assume just two compensatory picks. One in the third round and one in the fourth round.

Keep a level head Raider nation.

This mock draft is a bit unorthodox, but stay with me.

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