The franchise hasn’t won more than four games since the 2011 season. Reggie McKenzie has the team’s future and possibly his job security on the line in his third year as general manager.
On draft days, he had some missteps. D.J. Hayden and Menelik Watson, the top two picks from the 2013 draft, haven’t panned out as expected.
However, in the following year McKenzie selected five prospects out of eight who cracked the starting lineup and provided a significant impact on a 2014 season that portrayed a glimmer of hope for the future.
Now with Derek Carr as the anointed franchise quarterback, and Khalil Mack as a versatile moving chesspiece on the field, it’s time to add the missing puzzle pieces to a playoff contender.
There are some important storylines to follow in Round 1 of the draft, which set the tone for storylines in the subsequent rounds. Let’s take a look at a few intriguing ones:
Day 1
Whom will the Raiders select if both Leonard Williams and Amari Cooper are on the board at No. 4? Bleacher Report's Matt Miller indicates there's a split within the organization on that choice. Will McKenzie bite on a trade-down offer for a team positioning for Marcus Mariota, Leonard Williams or Dante Fowler? Day 2
Are Rounds 2 and 3 strictly designated for positional needs? Defensive end, guard and tight end are positions lacking in starting talent or are in need of an upgrade. Will McKenzie continue to draft non-powerhouse players at the top of the draft? Ali Marpet is a Division III player from Hobart College with a lot of upside at a position of need. According to Mike Wilkening of ProFootballTalk, Shane Ray had a run-in with the law that could affect his draft stock. If he slips into the second round, will McKenzie select the Mis...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
