At a glance: After an influx of wideout talent in free agency, a heavily-defensive draft was required to shore up Oakland's leaky defense that gave up more points than any one last season. The team didn't ignore the entire NFL landscape telling it to address its pass rush, and while not popular, defensive end Clelin Ferrell should do just that. Highly touted running back Josh Jacobs fell into Oakland's lap to help with a more dynamic offense.
Much of the talk since the draft is about how big of a reach defensive end Clelin Ferrell was by the Raiders and not on how Oakland can use all the help it can get rushing the passer. Ferrell wasn't highly touted on TV, but that's because the guy that would have talked about him up was the one that drafted him. Maybe general manager Mike Mayock feels Ferrell is a better scheme fit. Or maybe he just feels Ferrell is a guy the team can afford to keep around for a while (see Khalil Mack).
Outside of the Ferrell criticism, Oakland got its game-changing, fast, elusive guy in the backfield. Unfortunately for for head coach Jon Gruden it wasn't quarterback Kyler Murray, but Josh Jacobs is touted as a high-impact player that can take over from presumed starter Isaiah Crowell, who was placed on IR shortly after the Draft.
DRAFT PICKS (per ESPN)
1.04 Clelin Ferrell DE
1.24 Josh Jacobs RB
1.27 Johnathan Abram S
2.08 Trayvon Mullen CB
4.04 Maxx Crosby DE
4.27 Isaiah Johnson CB
4.35 Foster Moreau TE
5.11 Hunter Renfrow WR
7.16 Quinton Bell DE
ORIGINAL COVER PHOTO: NBC Sports
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