Though the Raiders have the fifth overall pick in May’s draft, some believe it still may not be high enough for them to land the franchise quarterback they desire.
With three teams above them who are also looking for quarterbacks – the Texans (No. 1), Jaguars (No. 3) and Browns (No. 4) – the Raiders may not be in position to get the one guy they truly believe in.
Yet a solution to that problem may be available: the St. Louis Rams.
Nick Wagoner, who covers the Rams for ESPN.com, suggested Thursday that the Rams might make a perfect trading partner for the Raiders.
The Rams have the second pick in the draft and have indicated they’re not in the market for a quarterback, what with Sam Bradford already on the roster. The Rams have needs in other areas that might be filled from the No. 5 spot the Raiders occupy.
And, while the Raiders have needs on both offense and defense across the board, a top quarterback is their screaming need. If, after the Houston Texans make their pick to lead off the draft, the Raiders see the quarterback they covet still available, Wagoner suggests a Rams-Raiders deal might be a win-win scenario.
Of the three top quarterbacks available – Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles – the Raiders would have a shot at two of them. Or, all three if the Texans were to take defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, for instance.
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“For the Rams, the Raiders fit perfectly into a potential sweet spot for a trade down,” Wagoner wrote. “A move three spots down the board could garner an additional second-round pick and perhaps something else, but also leaves them still in position to add a top offensive tackle like Auburn’s Greg Robinson or Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews, or Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins.”
It would be a bold move by Oakland GM Reggie McKenzie, who’d likely have to give up a second-round pick – a high cost considering the Raiders need a large influx of talent.
Oakland’s second-round pick is 36th overall, so it’s a valuable one, especially this year in what is considered a deep draft. With that 36th overall choice, the Raiders might be getting a first-round-level talent.
After the second round, the Raiders have the 67th overall pick in Round 3, plus picks in the fourth and sixth and two in the seventh. The fifth-round pick was traded to Seattle in the deal last year for quarterback Matt Flynn.
