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Ranking Raiders’ best draft picks of the decade by round

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While he had some stinkers, former GM Reggie McKenzie made some nice picks

Oakland Raiders v Arizona Cardinals
Reggie McKenzie
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

Inspired by this week’s NFL All-Decade team and the fact that the draft is in just 15 days, let’s look at the best Raiders’ draft pick in all seven rounds during the last decade.

Yes, the fact is, there were probably more whiffs than home runs for the Raiders in the draft over the past 10 years. But we won’t subject you to that list.

Instead, let’s look at the best Raiders’ draft choice of the last decade:

Oakland Raiders v Philadelphia Eagles
Khalil Mack
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

1. Khalil Mack, Pass-rusher, 2014:
Mack is the only player drafted by the Raiders in the past decade to make the All-Decade team (punter Shane Lechler was drafted in the previous decade). Mack won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and was a great Raider for four years. Plus, his 2018 trade to the Bears brought stud running back Josh Jacobs in the draft last year and the No. 19 pick this year.

Oakland Raiders v Denver Broncos
Derek Carr
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

2. Derek Carr, quarterback, 2014:
Say what you wish about Carr, but he’s been the Raiders’ starting quarterback since his rookie year and he could spend his entire career with the team. He was a great value pick.

Oakland Raiders v Denver Broncos
Gabe Jackson
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

3. Gabe Jackson, guard, 2014:
He was the third straight great pick by former general manager Reggie McKenzie. Jackson has been an upper-level guard for most of his career.

Oakland Raiders v Denver Broncos
Maxx Crosby
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

4. Maxx Crosby, defensive end, 2019:
This is a bit premature, but why not? Crosby had 10 sacks as a rookie and has a chance to be a star. I’ll bet he will have a better career than the likes of fellow Raiders’ fourth-round picks this decade, including Jon Feliciano, Jacoby Ford and Jelly Ellis.

Jacksonville Jaguars v Oakland Raiders
Maurice Hurst
Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

5. Maurice Hurst, defensive tackle, 2018:
The Michigan product has been solid and he has room to grow. Our 2019 pick, receiver Hunter Renfrow, has a chance to surpass him, though.

Wild Card Round - Oakland Raiders v Houston Texans
Lavatius Murray
Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images

6. Latavius Murray, running back, 2013:
The “Tay Train’ was a nice player for the Raiders and another good pick by McKenzie. His best season as a Raider was in 2015 when he had 1,066 yards rushing in 2015.

Oakland Raiders v Minnesota Vikings
Shelby Harris
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

7. Shelby Harris, defensive lineman, 2014:
There are a few other choices, including draft class mate defensive back T.J. Carrie. Most of Harris’ good work has come as a Denver Bronco, but he clearly was a good value for McKenzie in the strong 2014 class.