Looking back at the last decade first round picks is a painful process for the Raider Nation. However, with this year's iteration of the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, it is time to take a look back.
2008 #4 Darren McFadden RB
Coming into the draft, the buzz was centered around Darren McFadden's speed and playmaking ability. It is too early to make a call on him. However, he did not make much of an impression his rookie year, losing time to a turf toe injury.
2007 #1 JaMarcus Russell QB
Russell got off to a rough start with the Raider Nation, as he was involved in a contract holdout that kept him off the roster until the day before the opening game. He has been more miss than hit, and if he doesn't start turning it around in 09, the word bust will be thrown around freely.
2006 #7 Michael Huff S
Huff lost his starting position to Hiram Eugene midway through 2008. He has been labeled a bust, and managed to do that the old fashioned way, he has earned it. He started out doing well covering the top tight ends in the division, but went downhill from there. he has issues in coverage and with tackling.
2005 #23 Fabian Washington CB
Washington was decidedly average during his time in Oakland. The Raiders traded him for a fourth round pick during the 2008 draft.
2004 #2 Robert Gallery OT
Gallery had a rough start, but has become the poster boy for reclamation projects, as he has emerged as one of the top offensive guards under Tom Cable's tutelage.
2003 #31 Nnamdi Asomugha DB
At that time Aso was an unknown, and was widely derided as a 'reach.' However, he has since emerged as an elite cover cornerback.
2003 #32 Tyler Brayton DE
Brayton was moved between defensive end and linebacker, but did not excel as either. He walked as a free agent after the 07 season.
2002 #17 Phillip Buchanon DB
Buchanon was an electric returner, but a lousy cover corner. He rapidly earned the nickname P-Burnt before he was traded on draft day in 2005.
2002 #23 Napoleon Harris LB
Harris emerged as a rookie, and replaced the veteran Greg Biekert. He could not sustain that success, and he was traded to Minnesota in 2005 as part of the trade to bring Randy Moss to the Raiders.
2001 #28 Derrick Gibson DB
Gibson was lousy in coverage and a below average tackler. He is now out of football.
2000 #17 Sebastian Janikowski K
This move became an instant punchline, and has caused much consternation among the Raider Nation in the ensuing years. However, Janikowski has become the all time leader in scoring by a Raider, and has cornered the market on the longest field goals in Raider history.
Comments
this is a sad history of drafting..only ONE stud in the whole group...way too early to judge McFadden...Russell WILL be a bust...Gallery is an OK G but was drafted to be a franchise LT...this is sad...not even gonna mention taking a K in the first round...someone else needs to be making these picks in Oakland...
TheTooz:
How can you say JaMarcus is a bust he's only started in 17 games in his career so far & has no O-line protection has no #1 receiver unless u count Zach Miller give him an Anquan Boldin or a Chad Ocho Cinco & watch what happens even w/ the same sorry O-line we will win more games
so is it just me or should we swap our 7th for clev's 5 include justin fargas so we can get more time for bush and mcfadden and draft crabtree so we have a legitimate target for russell (garcia if russell f***s up) or maybe like our 1 and 4 for there 1 if u dnt wanna give up fargas either way we need to grab crabtree
Has anyone noticed that the raiders dont have any DT on this list? Well its time Raider Nation! BJ Raji should be a raider if he is on the board at pick seven, if he is there and they take a WR instead Im going to have a heart attack! If anything but a DT draft the best OT left so Russel might have 2.5 seconds after the snap instead of 1.5 seconds. A WR would be an ignorant pick with a terrible Oline and a Run defense that couldnt stop me up the middle. You cant drive a car without the wheels!!!!! ADDRESS THE TRENCHES!!!!! Go Raiders, 8-8 PLEASE!!!!
Dae Dae, CRABTREE IS A BUST! I GARENTEE IT! And wake up, Fargas isnt going anywhere with a newly reconstructed complicated resticted contract. Your talking out ur @$$! It doesnt matter if the raiders score tons of points this season were going to lose every game if we dont address the run defense, that means, DT, SS, OLB are our main priorites! STOP TRYING TO PUT SPINNERS ON A HONDA CIVIC PEOPLE! DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!
I'd like to see a comparison to other teams' first round drafts... A little much for one writer to undertake perhaps, but a scoring system applied equally to either division or conference teams would be interesting to see.
if the raiders were not so predictable maybe Russell would have more time!! run on first and second then blitz the QB on 3rd down! we need a playmaker like crabtree to have the defense respect the passing game! no passing game= 8-9 men in the box!!
Hang in there RaiderNation! Trust me there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This is the first time in years that this organization seems to have a offseason plan. The Raiders may shock Radio City Music Hall with there picks. Let's remember that the Raiders are very young as a team. Our up the middle defense- DT,SLB,SS are a glaring weakness. But remember "The Raiders Have A Plan Now!
Chris, the offense would be soo much better right now if they could ever get on the field, DMC, Miller, and Chaz are all playmakers and so is JLH. The defense is the problem here! Address the defense and the offense has much more opportunity to score and gel! I hope your right Smiley-Zoso, I hope they do have a plan!
hahahahahaha.... Can people in oakland not see after this list that its obvious there needs to be a change who is running this organization? hall of fame or not, when its time to go its time to go. that list is just embarrasing. russell might be worse than ryan leaf.... he hasn't proved that he isn't yet.
We are an embarrassment to not only the NFL, but to all pro sports the way this team is ran..
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