2011 NFL Draft: Oakland Will Have to Trade Up to Draft in the First Round

March 14, 2011   ·   Brian DiTullio   ·   Jump to comments

Trading Away First Round Pick To Patriots Could Prove Costly To Raiders

The Oakland Raiders find themselves doing some rebuilding after an 8-8 year. Owner Al Davis fired Tom Cable and turned the keys to the franchise over to Hue Jackson.

The problem is the Raiders traded away this year’s first-round draft pick to the Patriots for Richard Seymour. While Seymour has been effective and was signed to a new contract, the Raiders still are out a first-round draft pick.

As it stands now, the Raiders do not come on the clock until the second round with the 48th pick.

The Raiders do need a quarterback, but it is doubtful anyone Davis would want to take in the first two rounds still will be on the board. Ryan Mallett is the only physical freak that could interest Oakland, and even he may be gone by the top of the second round.

ESPN’s Bill Williamson looked at the quarterbacks who still may be on the board when the Raiders pick recently.

“The Raiders saw prospects Ryan Mallett of Arkansas and Jake Locker of Washington redeem themselves (at the Combine) with good performances,” said Williamson. “That could keep both players above Oakland’s first pick, which is No. 48. However, other prospects, TCU’s Andy Dalton and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick were not tremendous . . . so they could perhaps fall to the second or third round and entice the Raiders.”

With no first-round pick, who do the Raiders take in the second round?

Draft site Walterfootball.com proposes the Raiders replace Nnamdi Asomugha by drafting Ras-I-Dowling in his mock draft published last week.

“Ras-I Dowling has the height and speed that Al Davis covets,” wrote Walt in his mock draft. “Dowling ran a 4.40 at the Combine despite pulling up lame at the 35-yard marker.”

If there is one thing everyone knows Davis loves, it is speed. Davis sometimes has blown top-round picks because of good Combine numbers that were not backed up by game film. That would not be the case with Dowling, who appears to be the real thing.

For a complete look at the draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.