2008 NFL Draft Preview: Oakland Raiders' Wishlist

The Raiders will have the No. 3 or 4 pick in April's NFL draft, depending on a coin flip with Atlanta - both boasting 4-12 records from 2007. The Raiders have a number of offensive weapons with Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry, Lamont Jordan and Zach Miller. Oakland sunk tons of money into Jamarcus Russell in 2007, so drafting another top-5 signal caller is definitely out in 2008. The defense has some good, young pieces like pass rusher Derrick Burgess, Thomas Howard and Michael Huff. The draft will give the Raiders the opportunity to fill their biggest need areas of offensive line, linebacker and defensive tackle.

The Raiders are in a great position to fill those needs with the 2008 draft. Those positions are some of the deepest this year. In the top-5, the Raiders will have one of these players available to them: Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long, Keith Rivers, Brian Brohm, Matt Ryan and Darren McFadden. Obviously, the two quarterbacks are out. If the Raiders had all of them available, they would probably choose Dorsey. Unfortunately, Dorsey will be snagged by St.Louis if Miami passes on the mammoth defensive tackle. Darren McFadden would be the best player available - and you never know with Al Davis wanting to make that instant impact. With the Raiders struggles with pass protection over the past few seasons, it would take prescription drugs for Oakland to pass on a franchise tackle like Jake Long. Keith Rivers a wild card because Raiders need another play-maker in the front seven on defense. The Raiders take Jake Long in the 1st round.

The Raiders sure up the offensive line with another tackle in the 2nd round, either Gosder Cherilus (Boston College) or Carl Nicks (Nebraska). Jamarcus Russell now has a chance to have some success in 2008. Lamont Jordan and Jerry Porter send Al Davis a thank you card in late April. In the 3rd round, Oakland targets a linebacker - Virginia Tech's Vince Hall or Maryland's Erin Henderson. Rounds 4 and 5 give the Raiders and opportunity for cornerback Chevis Jackson (LSU), wide receiver Mark Bradford (Stanford) and speedy defensive tackle James McClinton (Kansas).