Reggie McKenzie’s Satisfactory Draft Picks Should Earn His Stay in Oakland

According to ESPN reporter Bill Williamson, Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis is prepared to make bold moves in the offseason to bring the franchise back to prominence. One of these foreseen bold moves shouldn’t include firing current general manager Reggie McKenzie.

McKenzie has done a terrific job with the last two drafts. During his tenure, a total of eight players selected had a major impact on the 2014 Raiders team. Despite a poor 3-12 record, some players on the roster are worthy of being impact players for the franchise going forward.

There are some restless Raiders fans calling for McKenzie’s job:



Here's another anti-McKenzie tweet:



The record is atrocious, but the process of development will be a slow progression rather than a quick turnaround. McKenzie has successfully moved the team in the right direction, and the proof is evident when analyzing the 2013 and 2014 draft classes.

Here are some impact players chosen by Oakland’s heavily criticized general manager.

 

Derek Carr



What more can you ask for than finding your franchise quarterback? It’s the most important step in a quest for a championship in today’s NFL, where scoring points is essential in a fast-paced game. Carr has played well on a bad team, which is hard for anyone to do let alone a rookie signal-caller. The prospect out of Fresno State has been unflappable in his demeanor and his play on the field.

Carr has thrown 20 touchdowns to 11 interceptions this season. He has also shown improvement in pass precision, throwing only two interceptions in the last six games. Despite an 0-10 start, the rookie’s psyche wasn't phased, an example of leadership that should be revered.

 

Khalil Mack



Within the same draft, the Raiders found their leader on the defensive...

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