The Oakland Raiders selected the best offensive player in this year’s NFL Draft when they picked running back Darren McFadden out of Arkansas.  McFadden is 6′1″, 215 pounds and he can run a 4.4 40.  He has the speed to score on any play and he can handle the beating of being an every down back.  McFadden played in 38 games (35 starts) at Arkansas and he carried the ball 785 times for 4,590 yards (5.8 ypc) with 41 TD runs.  He also caught 46 passes for 365 yards (7.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  McFadden also lined up at QB at times so you can expect the Raiders to add some gimmicks to their offense.  Adding a player of McFadden’s caliber to the offense should help QB JaMarcus Russell as opposing teams will have to load up the box to stop him.  McFadden will be this year’s Adrian Peterson except he’s not nearly as injury prone.  This was an outstanding pick by the Raiders.

The Oakland Raiders have traded cornerback Fabian Washington to the Baltimore Ravens for a 4th round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.  Washington played in 15 games (3 starts) for the Raiders last year and he made 40 tackles, defensed 8 passes and he had 1 interception.  Washington played 3 seasons for the Raiders and he made 123 tackles, defensed 24 passes and he intercepted 5 passes.  This was a good move for the Raiders as Washington wasn’t going to get much playing time this season if he stayed with them. 

The Raiders have signed 33-year old cornerback Duane Starks.  Starks did not play last season in the NFL.  He has now played in 97 games in his NFL career and he has made 356 tackles, defensed 96 passes, has 1 sack, forced 7 fumbles and he has intercepted 25 passes including two of which he returned for TDs.  At best, Starks will be a dime back and special teams player for the Raiders at this point in his career.

The Raiders got a good glimpse of the future last season after the Raiders decided to let first round pick JaMarcus Russell show what he could do.  Russell played in 4 games (1 start) as a rookie last season and he completed 36 of 66 passes (54.5%) for 373 yards with 2 TD passes and 4 interceptions (55.9 QB Rating).  Russell also carried the ball 5 times for 4 yards (0.8 ypc).  Russell has the arm to take the Raiders where they want to go as long as they get him some weapons to play with.  2nd round pick, TE Zach Miller should be one of Russell’s main weapons in the future.  Miller played in 16 games (all starts) as a rookie last season and he caught 44 passes for 444 yards (10.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He will improve as his career motors on.  The Raiders didn’t do too well in the 3rd round.  The Raiders first pick in the 3rd round was DE Quentin Moses and they cut him before the season started.  Moses played in 7 games (1 start) with the Miami Dolphins and he made 8 tackles and had 1.5 sacks.  The 2nd of the Raiders’ third round picks was OT Mario Henderson and he played in only 1 game (0 starts) last season.  The Raiders final third round pick was WR Johnnie Lee Higgins.  Higgins played in all 16 games (2 starts) for the Raiders last season and he carried the ball 2 times for 3 yards (1.5 ypc) and he also caught 6 passes for 47 yards (7.8 avg).  Higgins also returned 20 punts for 103 yards (5.2 avg).  In the 4th round the Raiders selected RB Michael Bush.  Bush missed all of last season while recovering from a serious leg injury that he suffered in college.  If he can recover the Raiders stole him in the 4th round.  CB John Bowie was the player that the Raiders acquired for WR Randy Moss.  Bowe played in 2 games (0 starts) last season and he finished with 1 tackle.  DE Jay Richardson was the first of two 5th round picks for the Raiders.  Richardson played in 16 games (11 starts) last season for the Raiders and he made 33 tackles, had 1 sack and defensed 1 pass.  He will likely be a decent reserve for the Raiders in his career.  Strong safety Eric Frampton was cut loose by the Raiders.  He played in 14 games for the Vikings & Lions and he made 14 tackles.  Fullback Oren O’Neal was the 6th round pick of the Raiders last season.  He played in 14 games (1 start) for the Raiders last season and he caught 1 pass for 1 yard.  His game is blocking and he’s pretty good at it.  WR Jonathan Holland was the 7th round pick of the Raiders.  He injured his shoulder over last summer and never made the team.

GRADE FOR 2007 SEASON:  C-

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B

The Oakland Raiders have acquired shut down CB DeAngelo Hall from the Atlanta Falcons for a 2nd round pick in 2008 and a 5th round pick in 2009.  Hall was then signed to a brand new 7 year, $70 million dollar contract.  Hall played in 16 games for the Falcons last season and he made 70 tackles, defensed 16 passes, forced a fumble and intercepted 5 passes.  Hall has now played in 57 games in his NFL career and he has made 230 tackles, defensed 48 passes, has 1/2 a sack, forced 3 fumbles and intercepted 17 passes which he has returned 435 yards with 2 TDs.  This was a very good move for the Raiders as it will tighten their already solid defense more.