Some People Think the Raiders Shouldn't Draft a QB

SI.com's Phil Taylor writes that taking a quarterback with the first-overall pick is overrated, often leads to disappointment, and "intelligent, if not spectacular quarterback play" can be found later in the draft. All seemingly fair points, except Taylor doesn't offer much of a defense for his position.

Yes, it's easy to make fun of the Chargers for the Ryan Leaf Experiment, and hey, did you know Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick? But other than those two really obvious points, Taylor bumbles through rationalizing why the Raiders shouldn't take JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn. In a sentence: "the odds aren't good on finding a star QB with the top pick." Though, Taylor adds, "...the same thing happens at other positions, but none of them are as unpredictable as quarterback, and no blunder is more obvious than wasting a No. 1 pick on a QB who doesn't have the right stuff. "Right. Like Mario Williams instead of Reggie Bush, for example.

Assuming Taylor is right, what should Oakland do? Draft Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas? Because we know the Raiders have a stellar track record with drafting lineman (see Gallery, Robert). Or, maybe, wide receiver Calvin Johnson can team with (choose one: Randy Moss, Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry) even though he'll have no one to throw him the ball.

NFL success for first-round wideouts is just as unpredictable as for quarterbacks. And though Oakland has a bunch of needs, quarterback is at the top of the list. Unless they can trade down and stockpile picks, I can't imagine why the Raiders wouldn't take a quarterback.

Unless...