Oakland Raiders 2013 NFL Draft: Team needs and potential solutions
Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (6) hangs his head on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. (Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)
Watching Jerry Rice and Tim Brown catch Rich Gannon touchdown passes en route to a Super Bowl feels like a lifetime ago. It has been several years and several coaches since the Black and Silver has tasted relevancy. With, yes, several holes to fill on both sides of the football, next year may not be their year either. However, Oakland enters the 2013 NFL Draft with the No. 3-overall selection and plenty of time to reassess their most glaring needs.
Here is what they will be looking at.
- Two Defensive Tackles: It doesn’t appear as though Richard Seymour will be back next year. Desmond Bryant is also a free agent. And I don’t need to point out that Tommy Kelly is a lazy player who is more interested in injuring the other quarterback than winning. Two defensive tackle upgrades are needed. One could be Star Lotulelei via the third pick this April.
- Two Cornerbacks: As you’ll see, the Raiders need multiples of various things on defense, including cornerbacks. This area was so bad this past season that safety Michael Huff had to start at one of the positions.
- Three Linebackers: Not one, not two, but three. The linebacking corps is that putrid. Philip Wheeler is a free agent who must be retained. Rolando McClain doesn’t really care. Miles Burris, meanwhile, was a disappointment, but is still young, so he’ll likely get another shot.
- Defensive End: Excluding the Jaguars, no team had fewer sacks in the NFL last year than the Raiders. The front office needs to find some help across from Lamarr Houston. Damontre Moore could be a possibility with the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
- Right Tackle: The right tackle position has been a big problem area for the Raiders in recent years. Neither Khalif Barnes nor Willie Smith played well there in 2012.
