The Raiders are eager to find anyone who can add pressure on opposing quarterbacks this coming season.
In 2014, the Raiders defense had just 22 sacks, tied with Atlanta for 30th in the NFL.
That’s one of the reasons the Raiders used a sixth-round pick on Virginia defensive end Max Valles, a 6-foot-5, 251-pounder who had 13 sacks in two seasons for the Cavaliers – including nine this past season.
Valles was selected as a third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference player this past season, but is considered a talented but raw prospect. One scouting service reported that Valles is more “an athlete and not a football player” at this point, having played multiple positions since high school, including wide receiver and safety.
But, one AFC defensive line coach, who chose to remain anonymous, told NFL.com that, “If it starts to click for him and he starts to put the tape work together with the talent – look out, buddy.”
In fact, he’s been compared in some ways to 49ers linebacker Aaron Lynch, who showed good pass rush skills as a rookie in 2014.
Of course, making an impact as a sixth-round pick is a long shot. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick, of course, and is bound for the Hall of Fame (despite Deflategate). But a better comparison might be Grady Jackson, whom the Raiders took in the sixth round of the 1997 draft from Knoxville. Grady played five seasons with Oakland and from 1998-2001 had some good seasons, his best coming in 2000 when he had eight sacks. He eventually played 185 NFL games through 2009, and had 35½ sacks in his career.
Sports
Valles is a project pick. The Raiders are hoping his skills and better coaching will allow him to prosper. But his progress may be slow.
“Valles can develop, but it will take time,” wrote Bill Williamson, who covers the Raiders for ESPN.com.
Just before the draft, Valles sounded optimistic about his NFL career.
“I’m only going to get better,” he told one reporter at his Virginia pro day. “I still haven’t really grown to my full potential. I feel like my ceiling’s very high. I’m definitely going to get much better.”
