2011 Oakland Raiders NFL Draft Needs

The Oakland Raiders are on the clock with the 48th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs and how those needs might be addressed on draft day.

1. Wide Receiver: Who knows what direction the Raiders might go in with pick No. 48 with Al Davis calling the shots? His decision to fire Tom Cable following the team’s best season in nearly a decade was a head-scratcher, just like his decision to draft wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey in the top 10 in 2009. Heyward-Bey doesn’t appear to be the No. 1 wideout the Raiders were looking for and there is still a void at the position as a result. Oakland’s best receiver is tight end Zach Miller. He’s a great possession guy and can run after the catch but the Raiders need a field-stretcher. After Georgia’s A.J. Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones, Kentucky’s Randall Cobb looks to be the next best receiver in the class. The Raiders could have a shot at him with their first pick. Boise State’s Titus Young is another option in round two and Indiana’s Tandon Doss could be a round three target.

2. Cornerback: With Pro Bowl corner Nnamdi Asomugha unlikely to be back, the Raiders are left with a big void in the secondary. Oakland will likely spend its first pick on Colorado corner Jimmy Smith if he were to fall into their lap. Smith has some character issues but those kinds of things haven’t deterred Al Davis in the past. Smith would definitely be worth the pick in my opinion because of his tremendous upside. He’s the most talented corner in this year’s class after LSU’s Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara. Smith is over 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 211 pounds. Plus, he possesses the type of top-end speed that could make him a shut-down corner at the next level. If Smith is off the board, the Raiders could still go after a player like Texas’ Curtis Brown with their first pick. Ohio State’s Chimdi Chekwa could be a round three target.

3. Offensive Line: 2010 draft picks Bruce Campbell (right guard) and Jared Veldheer (left tackle) will be back but the rest of the starting offensive lineman are free agents. The boys up front performed well last season, helping the team rank second in rushing with 155.9 yards per game, and the Raiders don’t want to see that progress lost. They could be in the running for a player like Georgia guard Clint Boling if they choose to address this need with their top pick. Wisconsin guard John Moffitt may be an option in round three.

4. Outside Linebacker: Oakland came away with a nice piece in Rolando McClain in the 2010 draft. He should be a mainstay in the middle for years to come. Kamerion Wimbley will be back on the outside after a team-leading nine-sack campaign but the Raiders could stand to add another pass-rusher. Washington’s Mason Foster is an option in round two.

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