The Oakland Raiders are slowly starting to reveal their intentions for the 2014 NFL Draft. The Raiders currently hold the No. 5 overall pick and could go in a wide range of directions with the pick considering just how many needs the team has after another disappointing season. However, reports show a quarterback is likely going to be what Reggie McKenzie uses his first-round selection on.
Many of the NFL's top draft picks are in Mobile, Alabama practicing for the upcoming Senior Bowl. Every team is sending down scouts and coaches to check out the level of talent. One player gaining plenty of attention is former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. After plenty of preseason hype, Clemson fell victim to Florida State and then struggled for the remainder of the year. Boyd finished the year with 3,851 yards and 34 touchdowns. The quarterback told reporters that the Raiders have shown the most interest in his skills.
"The Broncos, the Eagles, the Bears, the Raiders," Boyd said, via Walter Football. "There are more, but I can't think of all of them off the top of my head. I think the Raiders have been showing the most so far. I have a lot of other meeting set up, so we'll just have to see how the week goes."
The Raiders' interest in a quarterback is certainly not shocking. The team has been searching for a franchise quarterback for a few seasons now. Last year they rotated between Matt Flynn, Tyler Wilson, Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin. Pryor had a mild amount of success before getting injured. McGloin looked poised to take over the starting job in 2014, but McKenzie is not yet satisfied.
Reported interest in Boyd comes after McKenzie praised the talents of quarterback Johnny Manziel. The general manager said the former Heisman winner held all of the skills that the Raiders seek in a franchise player.
"He's a playmaker," McKenzie said, via ESPN.com. "Whether it's him or whether it's any one of these other guys, when you can add a playmaker to your team that's what you're shooting for. Be it the draft, be it (a) free agent. It doesn't matter. And Johnny is a playmaker."
It seems likely that either Pryor or McGloin will get released following the NFL Draft. The Raiders will not get their hands on Manziel unless they attempt to trade up for him. The idea of getting Boyd in the second or third round is more feasible.