Raiders have second shot at Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, should they take it?

Among the wildcards in last year's draft was the status of former Oregon Ducks cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu's knee and how it would affect his draft stock. As it turns out, the first round pick talent dropped to the bottom of the 7th round before being selected by the Browns with the pick just prior to the Raiders final draft pick.

Some think there was a decent chance the Raiders had designs on selecting Ekpre-Olomu with their final pick -- their third 7th round pick of that draft --, but when the Browns got him, they went with cornerback Dexter McDonald, teammate of fifth round linebacker Ben Heeney. There is no solid proof of that thought, mind you, but it makes sense.

The Raiders had a major need at cornerback after not adding anyone significant in free agency. They hadn't chosen a cornerback through the first nine picks until selecting McDonald.

It was highly unlikely Ekpre-Olomu was going to take the field for anyone as a rookie. His knee injury was major and required a long rehabilitation process. It was especially unfortunate because it happened after the season while practicing for the Rose Bowl, giving him very little to rehab it before the draft.

Most seventh round picks are there because of suspect talent and therefore rarely have a successful NFL career. When you have a 2-time First Team All American staring you in the face you take him regardless of his injury, knowing even if he never fully recovers, his odds of success are far higher than most prospects at that point in the draft. If the Raiders had it in their minds to take that shot with their final pick, the Browns beat them to it.

Some might see the Browns releasing Ekpre-Olomu just a year after drafting him as a sign the Raiders made the right decision. That may or may not be a correct conclusion at this point, but the Southern California native is "100% healthy and feels certain he'll be playing football at a high level this year" according to ESPN's Rand Getlin.

If the Raiders had the chance to get him, without using a draft pick on him, without having to hold onto him for a year while he got healthy, shouldn't they take that opportunity?

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