AOL News has a new home! The Huffington Post.

Click here to visit the new home of AOL News!

Hot on HuffPost:

See More Stories

2010 NFL Mock Draft, Fans' Picks Edition: No. 8 - Oakland Raiders

Apr 7, 2010 – 9:15 PM
Text Size
Bruce Ciskie

Bruce Ciskie %BloggerTitle%

The voice of the fan matters here at FanHouse, so you are going to collectively stage your own 2010 NFL Mock Draft. Let us know whom the Raiders should take with the No. 8 pick --You're on the clock.

Let's take stock. The Raiders have Nnamdi Asomugha, a couple talented running backs, some workable pieces along the defensive front seven, and a 300-pound quarterback who doesn't seem too interested in either losing weight or working hard enough to be an effective pro.

When it comes to draft busts, the Raiders have the market cornered. There's JaMarcus Russell, the oversized and ineffective quarterback. Last year's first-rounder, Darrius Heyward-Bey, did little to prove himself (nine receptions). All in all, the Raiders have had four top-seven picks in the last five years, and none of them have gone to the Pro Bowl.

To say the Raiders have a few holes would be an understatement. How do they go about addressing these holes with the No. 8 pick? More importantly, what craziness will we see out of Al Davis Central this year?

Unquestionably, Davis will be tempted to snare another quarterback -- but with Clausen off the board at No. 7, there's . If he wants to stay true to his board, there's a chance the best safety in the draft could be on the board for him. This could also be a good time to pick up a player to take over as the starting left tackle for years to come.

Previous Pick: Cleveland - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame; Next Up: Buffalo

(Note: The poll is now closed. Click here for the latest on the 2010 NFL Mock Draft, Fans' Picks Edition)

Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa: Bulaga comes from Kirk Ferentz, the same guy who produced tackle-bust-turned-guard Robert Gallery. But don't be fooled. Bulaga is a tackle, and a really good one at that. He's one of the better pass-blockers in the draft, and he is a very good fundamental player. If there's a question about Bulaga, it's his ability to get after people in the run game, as he could stand to get a bit stronger at the point of attack. He makes up for it with outstanding footwork and quickness.

Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland: While Bulaga is more of a pass-blocker, Campbell is likely a better all-around left tackle. The difference between the two is Campbell's ability to get leverage while run-blocking. He is very strong in this area, though he doesn't maul guys off the line like some teams want. Campbell might not be as good an overall athlete as Bulaga, but he's a perfectly fine prospect if Bulaga is off the board.

Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State: Let's think about this. Bryant had a poor pro day, is probably not considered a top-ten pick, and there are off-field concerns. Despite all this, he's still a solid first-round pick, he's a potentially dynamic player, and he plays a position the Raiders could use help at (one of many). If Davis is crazy enough to take Heyward-Bey, there's no guarantee he'll pass up Bryant.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida: He's not much of a run defender, but Pierre-Paul is going to make some money by being an explosive pass-rusher. While he won't be an every-down player early in his career, the athleticism and upside make Pierre-Paul a difficult player to ignore. This is probably too high for him, but Davis has never cared about such things. It's a position of need, and Pierre-Paul is the kind of player who is typically attractive to the Raiders.



Share
Tim Tebow, QB, Florida: Anything is possible with the Raiders, right? Tebow is an intriguing prospect at the quarterback position, because while no one knows how good he will look on film, he has the look and attitude of a winner, and a guy you want on your football team. The issue with this pick is whether or not coach Tom Cable is creative enough to make the most of Tebow's athleticism while they determine whether he can play the quarterback position in the NFL. No question the Raiders need a player with his character and his winning background, and no question they've been guilty of bigger reaches than this in the first round.

Pick Team Player Position School
1. St. Louis Rams Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions Ndamukong Suh DT Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Bucs Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma
4. Washington Redskins Russell Okung OT Oklahoma St.
5. Kansas City Chiefs Eric Berry S Tennessee
6. Seattle Seahawks C.J. Spiller RB Clemson
7. Cleveland Browns Jimmy Clausen QB Notre Dame
8. Oakland Raiders
Filed under: Sports

ON FACEBOOK