Three Raiders named to Sports Illustrated All-Rookie team

Sports Illustraded has come out with their annual All-Rookie team and it features three of the Raiders 2014 rookies on it. First up is the quarterbacks which features Derek Carr along with Vikings quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater.

Here is what Doug Farrar had to say about Carr:

Carr, the 36th overall pick, may have had this spot locked up midseason -- he's done a tremendous amount with very little around him -- but it's Bridgewater who has moved ahead with a great last month. In each of his last four games, the Vikings' quarterback (selected with the last pick in Round 1) has completed over 70 percent of his passes, and while he still has issues with accuracy and ball placement, he's tremendous under pressure, and he's starting to look like the kind of quarterback who can lead a franchise to better things. Carr has certainly looked like that as well, throwing 20 touchdowns to his 11 interceptions. You'd like to see him unleash it a bit more downfield -- Carr's 5.53 yards-per-attempt is by far the lowest among qualifying NFL quarterbacks this season -- but Carr is mobile, tough, smart and whoever takes over in Oakland from coaching and personnel perspective will have something to work with in 2015.

See the entire team here.

Next up is Justin Ellis who is joined by Rams outstanding defensive tackle, Aaron Donald.

Here is what Farrar had to say about the two of them:

Donald hasn't just been the most impressive rookie at his position -- it could be argued that he's been the most impressive player at his position over the last month or so. Donald has eight sacks on the season, and five total in his last six games. Taken 13th overall by the Rams, he's an absolute wrecking ball as a three-tech tackle, requiring multiple blockers on a high percentage of plays, and his 39 total pressures is by far the highest number for any rookie tackle. In fact, it's the most total pressures for any rookie tackle since Ndamukong Suh put up 41 for the Lions in 2010. Ellis, a fourth-rounder, has been a good surprise in a Raiders draft class that has been pretty outstanding -- his 14 run stops is second behind Donald's 22 among rookie tackles.

See the entire team here.

And last, but certainly not least, is Khalil Mack who is joined by another Viking, Anthony Barr.

Here is what Farrar had to say about the two standout linebackers:

While I have Aaron Donald as my drop-dead Defensive Rookie of the Year, the voices calling for Mack to get the award wouldn't get much argument from me. The fifth overall pick has put up a whopping 51 total pressures (only Denver's Von Miller has more among all 4-3 outside linebackers this season), and he ranks third in run stops at his position with 41, behind only Tampa Bay's Lavonte David and Detroit's DeAndre Levy. Barr hasn't been quite as impactful in Mike Zimmer's defense, and a knee injury ended his season in mid-December, but his coaches and teammates have been very impressed with his development. The No. 9 overall pick has the potential to be a consistent edge-pressure player, and he's improving in coverage.

See the entire team here.

Among those Raiders rookie starters not making the list are left guard Gabe Jackson (3rd round) and cornerback and return man, T.J. Carrie (7th round).

Making it at guard over Jackson were Joel Bitonio of the Cleveland Browns, Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys, and Trai Turner of the Carolina Panthers

The cornerbacks to make the team over Carrie were Kyle Fuller of the Chicago Bears, and Bené Benwikere of the Carolina Panthers.

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