Paul Gutierrez breaks down the Oakland Raiders' 2017 draft class.
Round 1, No. 24 overall: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
My take: The Raiders stunned the NFL by taking Conley, whose stock fell this week in the wake of being accused of rape. Conley insists he is innocent of the accusation, and the Raiders believe him. The Raiders taking Conley, who said he's scheduled to meet with police Monday and might not be charged, signals a confidence in Oakland, which 23 other teams did not exhibit. A gamble? An unseemly selection? Not from the Raiders' perspective. Not when they believe they got a steal in Conley. After all, as a player, Conley fills a specific need. Plus, as Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie put it, the bonus was that Conley was the best player on their draft board when their turn came up.
Where does he fit? The Raiders spent a lot of money last offseason on cornerbacks Sean Smith and David Amerson and still had just the 24th-ranked passing defense in the league while allowing a league-high 61 completions for gains of at least 20 yards. McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio gushed over Conley, calling it a "happy moment" for the team and Conley a "quality kid" without committing the first-rounder to either the slot or outside. Conley, meanwhile, said he started playing the nickel last year and was comfortable there as well as on the island. "He's the type of corner you look for," McKenzie said. "It's hard to get separation from him. He can play the deep ball. He can play press. He's big. He's strong. He's fast. And he understands the game, and you can tell he loves the game by the way he plays."
Didn't the Raiders need an ILB or DT first? McKenzie said the board fell this way, that Conley was the best player available and, after doing "miles and miles" of research on Conley, believes the accusations will be proven false. So even if an inside linebacker (Reuben Foster?) or defensive tackle (Malik McDowell?) may have been a bigger need, Conley being the best player on the Raiders' board trumped the so-called needs. He had eight pass breakups at Ohio State and four interceptions. Oakland has now drafted eight defensive backs in the first round since 2000, three more than any other team. The Raiders have now also taken a DB in the first round in consecutive years three times since then. More history? Conley is the third Ohio State DB taken by the Raiders in the first round, joining Jack Tatum in 1971 and Neal Colzie in 1975.
Round 2, No. 56: Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
My take: The Raiders used a first-round pick just last year on a strong safety in Karl Joseph, who made several all-rookie teams, and free safety Reggie Nelson went to the Pro Bowl after leading Oakland with five interceptions. So why would Oakland use another high pick on another safety, especially one as raw as Obi Melifonwu? Simple: depth. Joseph is undersized for how hard he hits and Nelson turns 34 in September. Besides, despite going 12-4 last season, Oakland had only the 24th-ranked passing defense in the NFL. After addressing the cornerback situation by taking Conley in the first round, the selection of Melifonwu shows the Raiders -- who had the fewest sacks in the league with 25 -- are addressing the pass rush by solidifying coverage. As Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack says, “pass rush and coverage work hand-in-hand.” Meaning Mack should get a coverage sack or two with an improved secondary, right?
How he fits: The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Melifonwu has been described as a genetic freak; he ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, registered a 44-inch vertical leap and went nearly 12 feet in the broad jump. The Raiders are betting he is more than a workout warrior. He did, after all, have eight interceptions in four seasons at UConn, with four picks and 118 tackles as a senior, but it’s hard to see him beating out either Joseph or Nelson. Rather, as a rookie, expect him to learn at Nelson's knee and get lots of special-teams run. And if his coverage is up to par, Melifonwu could perhaps pick up some tight-end coverage, particularly in the AFC West.
Round 3, No. 88: Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA
My take: The Raiders had a league-low 25 sacks last season, with three coming from the interior of the defensive line. And the two players responsible for those sacks -- Stacy McGee and Dan Williams -- are no longer on Oakland’s roster. Vanderdoes does not necessarily address a pass-rushing need in the middle; he had four career sacks at UCLA and missed nearly all of the 2015 season with a torn ACL. But he could be more athletic than Williams and occupy space and blockers; if Darius Latham and Justin Ellis improve their push, that would free up the likes of Mack and Bruce Irvin on the edges. Vanderdoes was a prime prospect before his injury, and while he seemed slower after the rehab last fall, he did have a strong showing at the Senior Bowl to raise his stock again. Bottom line: The Raiders need to be more athletic down low, and Vanderdoes addresses that need.
How he fits: The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Vanderdoes ran a 4.99-second 40-yard dash, broke off 28 reps in the 225-pound press and had a 28 1/2-inch vertical jump. So as far as defensive tackles go, yeah, he’s athletic, maybe more athletic than the departed duo of McGee and Williams. And that’s how he fits ... so long as he’s healthy and his knee issue is a thing of the past. Vanderdoes, who had 126 career tackles with 13.5 for a loss, needs to occupy blockers, force double-teams and stay fresh. He does that and the Raiders might have found a gem. If not, the Raiders still need a big body down low.
Round 4, No. 129: David Sharpe, OL, Florida
My take: According to the NFL Network, Sharpe is “almost blind” in his right eye -- something Sharpe denies -- and is sometimes “late off the ball.” If so, he would primarily be a left tackle and learn the craft at the NFL level under Donald Penn, 34. The Raiders' offensive line is already a team strength, so Sharpe might have a steep climb just to dress on game days, let alone compete for quality snaps.
How he fits: Not the most gleaming scouting report, especially because he reportedly compares to Raiders offensive lineman Vadal Alexander. Still, Sharpe protected QB Luke Del Rio’s backside at Florida, so you know Raiders coach Jack Del Rio received an in-depth scouting report from his son on the 6-foot-6, 357-pound Sharpe. A huge man, Sharpe could provide depth, compete for an extra offensive lineman spot on game days, and see time on special teams.
Round 5, No. 168: Marquel Lee, LB, Wake Forest
My take: Finally, the Raiders addressed their glaring hole at inside/middle linebacker with the selection of Lee. Does that mean he will step in as a starter? Hardly, but Oakland needs depth there, with Ben Heeney and Cory James the lone Raiders on the roster with “pure” inside linebacker experience. The Raiders need numbers, and Lee had production last fall for the Demon Deacons, with 7.5 sacks and 105 tackles, 20 for loss.
How he fits: GM Reggie McKenzie wants a “cerebral” playmaker in the middle of the field, and while Lee does make plays, it’s hard to imagine a fifth-round rookie stepping in immediately and becoming a starter. Rather, it’s easier to envision the Raiders re-signing Perry Riley Jr. and having Lee get snaps on special teams and learning the position. After all, McKenzie was an inside linebacker, and so were coach Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
Round 7, No. 221: Shalom Luani, S, Washington State
My take: The Raiders, as noted time and again, had only the 24th-ranked pass defense in the NFL despite strong safety Karl Joseph being named to several all-rookie teams and free safety Reggie Nelson going to the Pro Bowl. Oakland needs depth and Luani provides it, even if he may be seen as a ball hawk -- eight interceptions the past two years -- with poor tackling skills.
How he fits: Depth. Depth. Depth. Luani provides that and has a nose for the ball, as evidenced by his eight picks the past two years. But because his tackling is an issue, the former soccer player -- he scored for American Samoa in its first FIFA-sanctioned win over Tonga in 2011 -- will need some seasoning.
Round 7, No. 231: Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State
My take: The Raiders' offensive line is a team strength, with three Pro Bowlers, a free-agent signee and the top eight O-linemen already essentially locked in. Plus, they used a fourth-round draft pick on David Sharpe from Florida. So why would the Raiders use a seventh-round selection on an unknown commodity such as Jylan Ware? Depth at best; camp body at worst.
How he fits: Not sure, exactly. Perhaps to sharpen the other Raiders offensive linemen in camp? It’s hard to see the 6-foot-8, 295-pound Ware making the team as it is currently constructed, let alone dressing on Sundays. He is a large man, though, so perhaps he fits in any place he pleases?
Round 7, No. 242: Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina
My take: The Raiders needed to draft a running back, yes, even after acquiring Marshawn Lynch on Wednesday. Lynch probably won't play more than two years, and Hood’s running style seems similar to that of Lynch, even if Lynch is unique. Hood ran for 1,463 yards as a sophomore with 17 TDs but fell to 858 yards and eight TDs last fall. His skill set as a power back is different than that of DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, which is a positive.
How he fits: Too soon to say he's the heir apparent to Lynch? Yes. But Hood said he models his hard-running style after that of Lynch. "That's Beast Mode," Hood said. "I'm shedding tears right now." The Raiders want the 6-foot, 230-pounder to slim down a bit to work on his elusiveness, lest he find himself being groomed as a fullback.
Round 7, No. 244: Treyvon Hester, DT, Toledo
My take: The Raiders needed depth at defensive tackle and someone who could provide push. Sure, Hester played against smaller college talent while at Toledo in the MAC, but he collapsed pockets with aplomb. He had five sacks last fall for the Rockets, with eight tackles for loss among his 39 stops. He said he sees himself playing on the defensive line and does not want to “limit” himself by saying he is merely a 3-technique.
How he fits: Beyond depth. Hester has an opportunity to compete for quality snaps because the Raiders lost Stacy McGee to free agency and cut Dan Williams. Yes, the Raiders drafted a defensive tackle in the third round, UCLA’s Eddie Vanderdoes, but competition is supposed to bring out the best, right? This position battle, with Darius Latham and Justin Ellis returning to the interior, will be a fun one to watch.