There is now officially nothing left to show for Reggie McKenzie’s first two drafts with the Raiders. He had already waved goodbye to his 2012 class last year, which didn’t have a pick until the end of the third round. The 2013 draft was his first full class. The last domino to fall from that class was Mychal Rivera who today signed with the Jaguars on a 2-year deal meaning there is no longer a player on the Raiders roster from that class either.
Let’s quickly run through this class and how and when they departed.
Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas -- Round 4
He was the first to go. There were reports in this draft that Reggie McKenzie wanted to take Matt Barkley in the 4th round, but the Eagles traded up ahead of the Raiders to snag him with the first pick in the round. With Barkley gone, the Raiders traded down from pick 100 to 112. But they still needed a QB, so they nabbed Wilson. He didn’t even make the team out of camp. He spent time on the practice squad before being signed by the Titans. He never played a snap in the NFL.
David Bass, DE, Missouri Western State – Round 7
Despite impressing in camp and preseason, he didn’t make the roster out of camp. He was signed off waivers by the Bears and that was the end of his time with the Raiders. He has carved out a career for himself, spending two years in Chicago, and the past two in Tennessee. He remains with the Titans.
Nick Kasa, TE, Colorado – Round 6
Caught one pass for the Raiders – a 9-yard touchdown his rookie season. He appeared in 16 games as a rookie. Then he couldn’t get healthy. He was waived the final time in the 2015 offseason with a failed physical designation.
Sio Moore, LB, UConn – Round 3
The often self-proclaimed best linebacker in his draft, he was a talker. And often times his fire showed up on the field. Though he tested the patience of his teammates and coaches from time to time. That’s probably what prompted them to ship him to the Colts for a 6th round pick prior to the 2015 season. He played one full season in Indy and bounced around to three different teams last season.
Brice Butler, WR, San Diego State – Round 7
‘DJ Duffle’ as he is called. Three straight preseasons, he looked like one of the best receivers on the team. But for some reason once the regular season came around, he would barely see the field. After his third fantastic preseason in 2015, he was traded to the Cowboys for a conditional low round pick swap. He has spent the past two seasons in Dallas, still making the occasional great play and hovering around breaking out.
DJ Hayden, CB, Houston – Round 1, pick 12
He was the only player who was eligible to stick around for a fifth year, but a lackluster first three years in Oakland and they declined to pick up his 5th year option, making him a free agent this offseason. Last week he signed a 1-year deal with the Lions.
Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State – Round 2
With the selection the Raiders acquired by trading down in the first round from pick 3 to 12, they drafted Watson. If they hadn’t, they would have been without a second round pick thans to the remaining compensation from the Carson Palmer trade. Watson has spent most of his career out with injury, including missing the entire 2015 season. He signed with the Broncos last week.
Stacy McGee, DT, Oklahoma – Round 6
Flirting with the roster bubble his entire career in Oakland, he actually seemed to make some strides last season. At one point he looked to be the best defensive tackle on a team desperate for pass rush from the interior D line. He headed to Washington on a shocking 5-year, $25 million deal.
Latavius Murray, RB, Central Florida – Round 6
The Raiders said they would like to get Latavius Murray back, but they had every intention of letting him test the market, which suggests they were ok with him leaving. Their workhorse back the past two seasons signed with the Vikings.
Mychal Rivera, TE, Tennessee – Round 6
Not even the first tight end the Raiders picked in the sixth round in this draft (Nick Kasa), he was never the guy the Raiders seemed to want to get the job, but always found himself as the last man standing. So, it’s only fitting he was the last man standing from his draft class and the one who closed the book on that draft class, signing on with the Jaguars.
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