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It’s going to be an exciting Thursday, as the Raiders own two picks in the first round. As it currently stands, they’ll be picking at No. 12 and No. 19. The last time the Raiders had two picks in the top 20 was back in 1988, when they had picks No. 6 & No. 9, along with No. 25.
So, with the team having two first rounders, how valuable exactly are they? Over the course of the next few days, we’ll be taking a look back at every first-round pick made by the Raiders over the last decade, and you will be grading how that pick turned out.
Rolando McClain - 2010 (No. 8 overall)
With the No. 8 selection, the Raiders drafted linebacker Rolando McClain out of Alabama. McClain was the clear-cut choice for best linebacker in the 2010 class. He was coming off an incredible season at Alabama, where he finished with 105 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also had two interceptions.
He had a fairly good rookie campaign for Oakland. McClain started 15 games, finishing the season with 85 tackles, including six for loss. He had an interception, six pass deflections and three QB hits.
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Over the next two seasons he started 23 games for the Raiders. He had 161 tackles, including 11 for loss, to go along with 14 pass deflections, six sacks, a forced fumble and a safety recovery.
With numerous off-the-field incidents and drama surrounding McClain, he was released by the Raiders in April of 2013.
Poll
What grade would you give this draft pick?
This poll is closed
-
3%
A
-
10%
B
-
29%
C
-
34%
D
-
22%
F
2011-2012 (No picks)
The Raiders didn’t have a first-rounder in back-to-back years. In September 2009, the team acquired DT Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots in exchange for its 2011 first-round selection (No. 17 overall). They also didn’t have a 2012 first-rounder, because they sent it (No. 17 overall) to the Bengals to acquire quarterback Carson Palmer.
D.J. Hayden - 2013 (No. 12 overall)
With the No. 12 pick, the Raiders took defensive back D.J. Hayden from Houston. Hayden played two seasons at Houston, racking up 127 total tackles, including 9.5 for loss. He also had six interceptions, 11 pass breakups and five forced fumbles.
He appeared in only eight games for the Raiders in 2013, starting two of them. He finished the season with 25 tackles, including an interception, forced fumble and two pass breakups.
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Hayden got more opportunity over the next two seasons, as he started 21 games. He racked up 117 tackles and had 18 pass breakups.
During his final season in 2016, Hayden started only two games for Oakland. He had 37 tackles and six pass breakups. He didn’t return to the Raiders in 2017, as he was picked up by the Detroit Lions.
Poll
What grade would you give this draft pick?
This poll is closed
-
0%
A
-
1%
B
-
18%
C
-
40%
D
-
38%
F
Khalil Mack - 2014 (No. 5 overall)
With the fifth pick, the Raiders took linebacker Khalil Mack from Buffalo. While playing at Buffalo, Mack was an absolute stud. He had 327 tackles, 74.5 TFL, 28.5 sacks, 21 pass deflections, three interceptions and 16 forced fumbles.
Sheesh.
He showed that it wasn’t a result of weak competition, as he dominated right away in the NFL. During his rookie campaign, Mack started all 16 games. He had 76 tackles, with 16 of them coming for loss. Mack had 12 QB hits, four sacks, three pass deflections and a forced fumble. He was named to the 2014 NFL All-Rookie Team.
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Over the next three seasons, Mack turned himself into the best linebacker in the game. He started 48 games over that span, totaling nearly 230 tackles, 52 tackles for loss, and 36.5 sacks. Mack was named to three Pro Bowls, was a First-Team All Pro in 2015 and 2016, and a player of the month in November of 2018.
Before the 2018 season began, the Raiders traded him, a 2020 second-round pick, and a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2020 (condition failed, turned into a 2020 seventh-round pick) to the Chicago Bears for a 2019 first-round pick (turned into Josh Jacobs) and a 2020 first-round pick, as well as 2019 sixth and 2020 third round selections.
Poll
What grade would you give this draft pick?
This poll is closed
-
94%
A
-
3%
B
-
0%
C
-
0%
D
-
1%
F
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