Don’t let the small program and funny name fool you: six-foot, 194-pound RB prospect Taiwan Jones is fast with a capital "F." Besides tearing up the combine with a 40-yard time right around 4.3 seconds, Jones paved his own way for an early NFL draft entry with 1,742 yards and 14 touchdowns in his junior season at Eastern Washington. Leaving early is rare for an FCS prospect, but it didn’t take Jones long to prove that he can run with the best of ‘em. What he lacks in power, he makes up for with speed and a running style that ...
With no picks in the first round, the Oakland Raiders saw their first action in the 2011 NFL Draft on Friday, finishing the day with three new players.Many, including myself, thought that Al Davis would trade up in the draft in order to pick Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Instead, Davis added picks in the third and fourth round by giving the New England Patriots a seventh round pick this year and a second round pick in next year's draft.With their three picks on day two of the draft, the Raiders targeted their most immediate needs at offensive line and cornerback. ...
The first-team All-American selection in 2010 lands in a great spot going to the Oakland Raiders.Nnamdi Asomugha is 95 percent out the door, and Chekwa has a fantastic opportunity to contribute as a nickelback early.Chekwa has good size at 6'0", 195 and has adequate size to project as a corner in the NFL. He broke his wrist in the Sugar Bowl so hasn't been able to showcase himself as much as he would've liked this offseason, but there's no doubt this is a great value pick for the Raiders.After a couple of reach picks on day two, the Raiders get ...
On day two of the draft, the Raiders made strides towards Hue Jacksons goal of creating a bully.First they picked up the second ranked center in the draft, who also has a legendary Raider bloodline, in Stefan Wiesnewski.In the middle of the third they would appease Al Davis's need for speed by taking DeMarcus Van Dyke, the fastest player in the draft who ran a blazing 4.25 40-yard dash at the combine. He will compete for a starting spot at corner, and likely improve the Raiders field position by adding a spark on special teams.But before the day was over ...
Heading into the 2010 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders were considered the worst drafting team in the NFL. However, they quickly disproved that theory by having one of the best drafts of the year.Now, the Raiders are off to a great start after three rounds. In a highly scrutinized draft, Oakland is making sensible selections while filling positions of need.Two starting offensive linemen and a possible star at cornerback isn't bad.Here are my thoughts on the Raiders' draft so far.Begin Slideshow
Joseph Barksdale was one of the most highly recruited prospects in the country as a senior in high school in Detroit, though as a defensive tackle.Upon arriving at LSU, Les Miles and the coaching staff moves Barksdale to offensive tackle, where he played for four years.Barksdale started at right tackle for two seasons before moving over to the left side for his season year.He is labeled as a bit of an underachiever in college, and likely projects as a RT with the Oakland Raiders. Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
Van Dyke likely made Al Davis swoon when he broke 4.3 seconds in the 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. Van Dykes speed and quickness are unquestionably elite and he has showed the ability to make NFL caliber plays during his four years at Miami. He has all the physical tools to be a successful corner in the NFL. However, Van Dyke has never fully committed to football as he also ran varsity track in Coral Gables. He will have to have to fully commit to being a football player if he wants to find any success in the ...
The Oakland Raiders are keeping it all in the family with the 2011 NFL draft. The AFC West franchise drafted Penn State's Stefen Wisniewski, nephew of former all-pro offensive lineman for the Raiders, Steve Wisniewski. Stefen was drafted with the 16th pick in the second round (48th overall) Friday night.
It was the first pick of the draft for Oakland, who traded their first-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in a trade for defensive lineman Richard Seymour. Wisniewski was the first Penn State player drafted in the NFL draft this year. He started each of Penn State's 13 games ...
You've gotta give the NFL credit; despite the fact that it was used against them in court, the NFL always insisted there would be a 2011 draft. They never wavered, even when it made legal sense to delay the draft.After Judge Susan Nelson ruled to void the lockout, and then ruled against a stay request by the owners that would delay the start of the NFL season, league officials, among more uncertainty and unrest than they could've fathomed hours before the draft, had a very real choice to make.To draft, or not to draft?The NFL, from a business and legal ...
As the 2011 NFL draft opened on Thursday night, perhaps the biggest story was the fact that Commissioner Roger Goodell was showered with boos from the frustrated NFL fans in attendance.For the first time, the group that has been harmed most by the lockout, the fans, had an opportunity to voice their displeasure with Goodell and the owners over what has become a rather ridiculous charade. The NFL Owners (referred to as the NFL from hereon out) have lost three court battles to the NFLPA.First, there was the television deal that the NFL entered into which had lockout insurance. Not only ...