The Raiders waited until Day 3 to fill defensive needs after a shaky start to the NFL draft.
Football
Measured risks will be what define the Raiders’ 2018 NFL draft. In the fifth round Saturday, they took one unlike the others.
The Raiders spent the NFL draft’s second day as they did the first: trading. And anyone who doesn’t like the result, well, coach Jon Gruden has a few words.
The two newest Raiders were introduced Friday at team headquarters. Each sat between coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie during news conferences held two hours apart.
The Raiders opened the three-day draft Thursday with a flurry.
It seems about anyone’s guess the direction the Raiders will choose with their first-round pick. The wide range of possibilities is a testament to the state of the team’s roster, which features room to upgrade across the spectrum.
Cornerback Daryl Worley signed a one-year contract with the Raiders on Monday. A day later, coach Jon Gruden publicly commented about a position group that features no shortage in quantity.
On Tuesday, for the first time in several years, Jon Gruden coached on a field. He was true to form. His energy added a weight and intensity to what might otherwise have been a slow, vanilla spring workout.
The Raiders have tried giving star defender Khalil Mack help, but it hasn’t worked out, so expect them to select an edge rusher during the NFL draft, which begins Thursday.
Ohio State’s Denzel Ward is widely regarded as the top cornerback in the NFL draft. If available at the No. 10 pick, the Raiders might be tempted to couple him with former college teammate Gareon Conley.
Former Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea is expected to be selected Thursday in the first round of the NFL draft. He’s an option for the Raiders with the No. 10 pick.
No NFL team made more March roster transactions than the Raiders. That activity might force more moves in April.
Oakland probably will address its blind-side concerns at the draft. But will coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie select a tackle in the first round or wait until the later rounds?
The Raiders may have tipped their hand in March. They worked to provide Derek Carr more help.
After six weeks of high-intensity meetings with generous high-fiving for the delivery of a comprehensive stadium development deal for the Oakland Raiders and UNLV football, the Las Vegas Stadium Authority got down to more mundane work Thursday.
