It’s going to be an exciting Thursday, as the Raiders own two picks in the first round. As it currently stands, they’ll be picking at No. 12 and No. 19. The last time the Raiders had two picks in the top 20 was back in 1988, when they had picks No. 6 & No. 9, along with No. 25.
So, with the team having two first rounders, how valuable exactly are they? Over the course of the next few days, we’ll be taking a look back at every first-round pick made by the Raiders over the last decade, and you will be grading how that pick turned out.
With the No. 8 selection, the Raiders drafted linebacker Rolando McClain out of Alabama. McClain was the clear-cut choice for best linebacker in the 2010 class. He was coming off an incredible season at Alabama, where he finished with 105 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also had two interceptions.
He had a fairly good rookie campaign for Oakland. McClain started 15 games, finishing the season with 85 tackles, including six for loss. He had an interception, six pass deflections and three QB hits.
Over the next two seasons he started 23 games for the Raiders. He had 161 tackles, including 11 for loss, to go along with 14 pass deflections, six sacks, a forced fumble and a safety recovery.
With numerous off-the-field incidents and drama surrounding McClain, he was released by the Raiders in April of 2013.
The Raiders didn’t have a first-rounder in back-to-back years. In September 2009, the team acquired DT Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots in exchange for its 2011 first-round selection (No. 17 overall). They also didn’t have a 2012 first-rounder, because they sent it (No. 17 overall) to the Bengals to acquire quarterback Carson Palmer.
