Although the Raiders do not own a first round selection and don't pick until the middle of round two (selection #48), many believe they're in line to make a deal and trade up to take a quarterback.
The quarterback play was quite inconsistent this past season. Jason Campbell played very well at times, but also was inconsistent and injured. Attribute this to the terrible offensive line.
The journeyman and Tom Cable favorite, Bruce Gradkowski, is not expected to be returning to Oakland this season. Al Davis pointed to injury issues and his erratic play when mentioned in a recent press conference.
Raiders coach Hue Jackson has reiterated that Jason Campbell is the franchise quarterback. He even went on to say that they would look at every position in the draft, except quarterback.
Very interesting.
NFL pundits continue to report that the Raiders will be looking at quarterbacks this draft, and specifically Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett.
Locker, once considered a top-five draft selection, sees his stock falling due to inaccuracy, and will be picked at the bottom of the first or early in the second.
It's plausible that a team could strike a deal with the Patriots, who have the #28, to get Jake.
Ryan Mallett is one of the most talked about prospects this offseason. He's another player whose stock was sky-high at the beginning of the season, but fell due to drug, character, and accuracy issues.
Both players played in shotgun systems in college, which do not generally translate well to Oakland's offense. Mallett played under the infamous Bobby Petrino, and Petrino's programs do not produce top-tier quarterbacks. Ever.
Let me ask you this, Raider Nation: Would you trade up into the first round or early second (giving up a first round ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
