The Oakland Raiders are in a very interesting place when it comes to the NFL draft, as they have the third overall pick and likely will need to react to whatever the Chiefs and Jaguars do before making a selection and one thing that could point to their decision is the rumblings that says the 49ers, Chargers and Miami Dolphins all want to move up in the first round.
According to Yahoo, the 49ers want to move up and the third pick could be a target for the team as they may want to take Sharrif Floyd, Dion Jordan or another top defensive player. The Raiders have expressed interest in moving down since they have only a handful of picks in the top rounds and since it is a deep draft they may feel that is the best move.
According to ESPN.com, the Raiders have already released troubled linebacker Rolando McClain after a tumultuous 2012 season after his agent could not find a trade partner for the linebacker. The former number eight pick in the 2010 draft showed great promise coming out of Alabama and the team was forced to release him after he was due a $4 million base salary and was set to be a $6 million salary cap hit, something the Raiders could not afford this year.
General manager Reggie McKenzie has been trying to remake the roster over the offseason and he has added a number of new players, including Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett at linebacker as well as Matt Flynn in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks. The team traded away last year's starter Carson Palmer and now head into the draft with a number of options, including the possibility of taking Dion Jordan or Jarvis Jones with the third pick to help replace McClain.
The Alabama linebacker had a career year in 2011 with 99 tackles and five sacks, but last season was a mess as he got into it with coach Dennis Allen and at one point it appeared as if he would be cut during the season. The team gave him permission to seek a trade after the season ended, but after no team stepped up to the plate, the Raiders decided to waive him.
McClain was arrested twice over the past few years for dumb issues like pointing a gun at someone and giving a false name at a traffic stop, giving the Raiders no choice but to move on from the immature linebacker. This past season McClain had 62 tackles and one sack and he was cut after originally signing a five-year, $40.25 million deal coming out of Alabama.
The young linebacker could still have a future ahead of him if he can get his act together, as he has shown some flashes of brilliance, but those moments were far and few between the bad moments. The Raiders could go after a free agent linebacker in Karlos Dansby or Brian Urlacher, but chances are they will address the position in the draft.
Both Jordan and Jones are considered top talents at the position and Jordan is considered a lock as a top 10 pick, meaning that if the Raiders want him, they need to take him at number three. The Chiefs are likely to draft Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher with the number one pick, leaving the Jaguars to select Geno Smith as they are rumored to do. That would allow the raiders to take Jordan or Jones.
Both players could help the defense, as the Raiders went just 4-12 last season while allowing nearly 120 yards on the ground per game. McKenzie is a smart talent evaluator and depending on what he sees on tape will likely dictate who he picks with the third overall selection in April when the draft arrives.
