Round 1 is in the books. Oakland found a trading partner in Miami, and in the process, nabbed impressive CB DJ Hayden of Houston and got themselves a pick in round 2. With the 42nd pick, what direction will GM Reggie McKenzie go next? Here are my top 10 players that fit the Raiders' needs in the 2nd and 3rd round on Day 2:
1. DT Johnathan Hankins Ohio State - Even with the FA additions of Vance Walker and Pat Sims, there's still need for both depth and talent at the position. Hankins is a nimble big man who's versatile enough to play in any defensive scheme. He's quick enough to disrupt the backfield to rush the passer and strong enough to make an impact against the run.
2. DE Cornellius Carradine Florida State - Carradine was projected to go late in the first round, and he's not expected to last past the first few picks of the 2nd round. His ability to run after suffering an ACL injury late in the college season is promising. Carradine was very productive opposite Bjoern Werner. I think he will be gone by the time the Raiders pick, but he's one of the top prospects left at a position of need.
3. LB Manti Te'o Notre Dame - Te'o's ego must be bruised. After being linked heavily to the Vikings, they went elsewhere with their first two 1st round picks. When they traded back into the 1st, most thought Te'o was a lock. Wrong. It doesn't take away from the fact that Te'o is a very productive linebacker and a team leader. He'd be the leader that Rolando McClain never was. With 3 LB signings, its not an immediate need, but it is a great value pick.
4. FS DJ Swearinger South Carolina - With newly selected DJ Hayden in tow, the Raiders secondary looks a little more promising. What the Raiders are now lacking is a physical presence at safety and the addition of Swearinger could go a long way. He can line up at multiple positions in a pinch and his ability to drop the hammer makes him one of my favorite prospects left. Besides, having "Jungle Boi" come out during the pre-game player introductions to Welcome to the Jungle would be pretty sweet.
5. WR Da'Rick Rogers Tennessee Tech - The current group of Raiders WRs have a lot of promise and ability, but none in that group have true #1 WR ability. Rogers is probably the most physical WR in the draft and has talent to dominate the opposition. He punishes CBs and simply outruns safeties. If Reggie and company are confident that Rogers can straighten himself out on and off the field, he'd be a great addition in the 3rd round.
6. TE Vance McDonald Rice - Most people would probably put Zach Ertz on this list, but I highly doubt Ertz will be available when the Raiders pick in the 2nd round. I think Ertz goes to the 49ers, who need a replacement for Delanie Walker. The Raiders have been reportedly interested in McDonald, who is a very talented pass catcher. He's got very good hands and can make defenders miss in space. McDonald will need to learn how to block inline, something he wasn't asked to do at Rice.
7. WR Keenan Allen Cal - Many people were disappointed in Allen's slow 40 time, but that's never been the big receiver's game. He's a prospect who mirrors Anquan Boldin's skill set, a guy who runs clean routes and makes plays after the catch. He does have some concerns with injuries and his inability to come back from it in a timely manner. Still he would be a good value on day 2.
8. OG Brian Winters Kent State - The Raiders coaching staff and scouts got a good look at Winters during Senior Bowl week and he performed well against tougher competition. Winters fits the new scheme better than last year's OG pick Tony Bergstrom. He's a former wrestler who plays with a mean streak.
9. DT Kawann Short Purdue - One of the more underrated prospects in this draft, Short is a gap penetrating inside defender. Having to replace 3 defensive tackles is a tough task, but an addition like Short would bring a pass rushing element from the inside the the Raiders do not have right now on their roster.
10. DE Damontre Moore Texas A&M - Moore's stock has fallen precipitously and it could be of benefit to the Raiders. Workout numbers aside, Moore was productive for 3 years at College Station, showing he could make plays as a OLB and as a DE as well. Moore would fit a huge need for the pass rush starving Raiders. If Moore can commit to being a good football player and has his head on straight, he could be a good selection at pick 42.
Next 10: DT Brandon Williams, DE Alex Okafor, RB Jonathan Franklin, WR Justin Hunter, TE Gavin Escobar, LB Kevin Reddick, FS Bacarri Rambo, OG Larry Warford, DE Corey Lemonier, OT Brennan Williams
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