Oakland Raiders 2014 NFL Draft Wrap-up

Nov 2, 2013; Fresno, CA, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first quarter at Bulldog Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Additions

QB Derek Carr, California State University, Fresno
See? What did I tell you? With the selection of Derek Carr, the Raiders picked up an underrated QB (except 5 rounds earlier). Having Matt McGloin backing up Matt “Pick Six” Schaub just is not an option that the Raiders should feel comfortable taking. For Fresno State, Carr lead the nation in passing in almost every single category. As a senior at FSU, Carr had arguably one of the best senior seasons to date, throwing for the most passing yards in the nation (5,082 yards, 420 yards more than the second highest passer Sean Mannion), most touchdown passes (50 touchdown passes, 10 more than the second highest passer Jameis Winston), as well as an awesome 68.9% completion rate (would’ve been 70.08%, excluding Carr’s  217-yard performance against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl). Carr looks and feels like a typical NFL QB. At 6-2, 214 pounds, Carr can definitely throw the football deep and short with accuracy. For the Raiders, I think Carr has a legitimate chance at taking the starting job from Matt Schaub. When I look at the Raiders offense, I realize that they are actually pretty loaded. With WRs Rod Streater (888 yards), Denarius Moore (695 yards, 5 touchdowns), Andre Holmes (431 yards), and TE Mychal Rivera (407 yards and 4 touchdowns), and new additions in former Packers’ WR James Jones (817 yards in 2013, 14 touchdowns in 2012) and Browns’ WR Greg Little (1,821 career yards and 8 touchdowns in 3 seasons as a Cleveland Brown), Schaub and Carr should have plenty of receiving options to throw to next season. Hoping that Schaub and the Raiders’ dreams of a championship don’t get intercepted, Carr should see the light of day somewhere in the future. Key for him is to show off that gun of his. At Fresno State, he put up video-game-like numbers resembling that of Case Keenum. He needs to make sure to complete all of his passes so that he doesn’t become just another one-trick pony in the NFL.  

OG Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State University
Last season the Raiders ranked 10th-worst in the league with 44 sacks given up and 25th in the league in total passing yards per game (208.8 yards per game). With Gabe Jackson, the Raiders selected one of the better guards in the draft, next to UCLA’s Su’a-Filo and Nebraska’s Spencer Long. At almost 6-4, weighing 336 pounds, Jackson is a big boy, but he has big talent. He should be able to help out the Raiders’ offensive line concerns and protect Carr or Schaub or whomever is the Raiders’ starting QB next season. As well, Jackson had some experience with the running game and helping out in front with run protection. For Darren McFadden and the Raiders, a solid offensive line is crucial to success in the running game.