Last year the Raiders kinda spoiled all the draft nerds out there — which is basically every fan at this time of year — by having four picks in the top 40 of the draft including a pick at No. 4 overall. With that much to play with, it seems like the world is your oyster.
One of those first-round picks came in the trade that sent Khalil Mack to Chicago. That same trade also gave the Raiders two picks in this draft, but for reasons unknown the Raiders also sent a round two pick to Chicago in the deal, so they would go some 61 picks between their final first-round pick and their next pick at No. 80 in the third round.
It meant the team and their fans would just have to watch as all those players who were projected as first-round picks but slipped into the second round would go to other teams.
How could draft guru Mike Mayock let that happen? The guy who has said on more than one occasion that he loves players in the 20-60 range had none. No way does he let that happen, right? He has to trade down in the first or trade up from the third, right? Right?!?
Well, the 19th pick came and the Raider made their selection, choosing Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette. Then as the second-round picks came off the board, one by one, the Raiders stood pat. They didn’t even move up in the third. They just sat and waited.
But it wasn’t easy.
“I’m not gonna lie to you, I got tempted a couple times to move up,” said Mayock over conference call following the conclusion of the third round. “Guys were sliding that I had rated higher and I was kind of tempted, but Jon [Gruden] and I talked about being patient and letting it come to us and I was hoping for a trade down opportunity to pick up another pick tomorrow.”
So, alas, it came to pass that the Raiders didn’t have a pick in the 20-60 range. And then some. They would take Kentucky running back Lynn Bowden at No. 80 and South Carolina wide receiver Bryan Edwards at No. 81.
Ultimately Mayock would get his wish, however, as they made a deal with the Patriots to trade down from pick No. 91 to No. 100.
“We were getting to the point, we had some action at 80 and 81 but we really wanted to make those picks back-to-back,” Mayock continued. “Nothing that blew us away, so we made the picks at No. 80 and No. 81 and New England came back a couple different times and we were happy to move back at that point and pick up a 4th [round pick].”
That additional selection will come at No. 137 overall, with the Raiders already owning a pick at No. 121 overall. Turns out Mayock really like the fourth round too. The team had three last year — turning them into edge rusher Maxx Crosby, tight end Foster Moreau, and cornerback Isaiah Johnson.
And, hey, with Gabe Jackson and P.J. Hall both reportedly being shopped in trades, maybe they will end up with even more fourth-round picks before all is said and done.
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