Many, including myself, expected the Raiders to trade up into the back of the first round. Al Davis loves his first-round talent, and it has been years since the Raiders did not make a pick in the first round. However, as the first round of the 2011 draft came to a close, the Raiders not only didn't trade up, but there wasn't even any talk of them trying to trade up.
I was actually very happy that the Raiders did not trade up. If they had, I believe it would have been for quarterback Colin Kaepernick. I think that Kaepernick could ...
With the 48th pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders select Ras-I Dowling, cornerback, University of Virginia.Stefen Wisniewski will be there for the taking but Oakland will pass on the Penn State guard.Instead, Al Davis will roll with the highest-rated cornerback on the board to ensure that the team has an insurance policy for the likely departure of free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.Last April, the Raiders had one of their best drafts in team history because they found players that filled needs and did it at a high level.If Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers continues to slide, Mr. ...
There were rumors flying around before the 2011 NFL Draft that the Oakland Raiders were looking to move into the first round. After a night of exciting first-round action, the Raiders decided to wait until Day 2 to get their players.Meanwhile, the rest of the AFC West made moves to improve their roster. The Chiefs appeared to have had the better first day. They added standout wide receiver from Pittsburgh Jonathan Baldwin and he will be a great addition to an offense that has a strong running game. He adds another passing weapon to an offense that already has Dwayne ...
When I first saw that the Oakland Raiders joined in a partnership with the California Lottery, I thought it was a clever idea. After all, the lottery is a game and NFL football is a popular sport. Later, I found that many NFL teams are joining in partnership’s with their state’s lottery. For example, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans have their name attached to lottery games. The Oakland Raiders launched their scratch ticket in Sept. 2010. If you don’t win the cash, you can win other things like tickets. Taking a chance on the lottery ...
There are many NFL teams who have a partnership with the lottery in their state. In Ohio, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns have their names attached to the lottery. It is a good marketing strategy, too. The Oakland Raiders and the California lottery joined in a partnership September 1, 2010. The money helps with education, so the Oakland Raiders' name helps California with education. A math class in Texas did a project, showing the mathematics and statistics in the lottery game in the United States. Some consider the lottery as a sport, so the partnership with the NFL teams makes ...
Last year, having built up a reputation for making bizarre decisions on draft day, the Oakland Raiders actually had a very good selection of picks. In the first round, they took linebacker Rolando McClain (pictured) out of Alabama. Later on, they traded for quarterback Jason Campbell and upgraded the offensive line.That all being said, I and the rest of the long-suffering Raiders fans have just one question: can the team have another good draft this year without a pick in the first round?The team's biggest needs this season are at quarterback, cornerback and safety, so let's see just how their picks in ...
I will never forget the vast and confusing emotions that swirled deep in my gut when I woke up one morning to learn that the Raiders had traded for Richard Seymour. At first, I was ecstatic. Here is a guy that has been the backbone of the defensive line on one of the best teams in football and he was coming at a time when our line was pathetic. Then, I found out what we had given up to get him, the 2011 first-round pick. My joy immediately left and an unsettled feeling began creeping over my body. For seven ...
2011 NFL Draft: Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers Among Teams Who Could Sneak into the Playoffs with a Good DraftSimply put, the NFL draft is the engine that drives teams to the playoffs. The equation is pretty self-explanatory: Several good draft classes equal good NFL players, which usually equal a team that is playoff-worthy.For several teams that missed out on the playoffs in 2010, Thursday's NFL draft could represent the final touches on what could be a return to the playoffs in 2011.Here are 11 teams that could find themselves in the postseason next season with a good showing over ...
This article is part of a series that looks at each NFL team’s recent draft history with the hope of extracting information about the way they think and the players they value. The analysis is limited to the past five drafts in the interest of relevance, and the first three rounds because that’s where most impact players are taken. This entry will focus on the Oakland Raiders. Draft History In the past five years, the Raiders have taken the following players in the early rounds. Their positions and the rounds in which they were drafted are listed next to ...
The 2011 NFL Draft is only one day away. The Oakland Raiders need to have another good draft this year to build on their success from last year. This mock draft will feature picks that I consider are areas of need for the Raiders and also will include some fan input.After hearing the fans in previous mock drafts, it's obvious they feel the offensive line is the major need for the Raiders.Let's get this mock going.Begin Slideshow