Backdraft: Oakland Raiders

BACKDRAFT SERIES: For 16 days leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft, we're rolling out capsule draft histories of each of the 32 NFL Teams.

 

Backdraft Series

Apr. 12 - Packers | Steelers

Apr. 13 - Bears | Jets

Apr. 14- Patriots | Falcons

Apr. 15- Ravens | Seahawks

Apr. 16- Saints | Eagles

Apr. 17- Colts | Chiefs

Apr. 18- Buccaneers | Giants

Apr. 19- Chargers | Raiders

Apr. 20- Jaguars | Dolphins

Apr. 21- Rams | Lions

Apr. 22- Vikings | Texans

Apr. 23- Redskins | Cowboys

Apr. 24- Titans | 49ers

Apr. 25- Browns | Cardinals

Apr. 26- Bengals | Bills

Apr. 27- Broncos | Panthers

2011 Draft Position:

• 48 (traded the 17th overall pick to New England Patriots)

 

First-Ever Draft Pick:

• Dale Hackbart, CB, Wisconsin (1st Round, 1960). The AFL's first draft had a provision where each of the eight clubs received one "territorial" or "bonus" pick.

 

Most Recent Draft Pick:

• Stevie Brown, DB, Michigan (7th round, 251st overall, in 2010)

 

Hall of Famers Drafted:

• Jim Otto - 1960 AFL Draft
• Lance Alworth - 2nd Round (9th overall) 1962 AFL Draft (Also drafted in 1st round - 8th overall - of 1962 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.)
• Mel Renfro – 10th Round (79th overall), 1964 (Also drafted in 2nd Round - 17th overall – of 1964 NFL Draft by Dallas Cowboys)
• Fred Biletnikoff - 2nd Round of the 1965 AFL Draft (Also drafted in 3rd round - 39th overall - of 1965 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.)
• Gene Upshaw - 1st Round (17th overall), 1967
• Art Shell - 3rd Round (80th overall), 1968
• Dave Casper - 2nd Round (44th overall), 1974
• Howie Long - 2nd Round (48th overall), 1981
• Marcus Allen - 1st Round (10th overall), 1982

 

First Overall Pick in the NFL Draft:

• 2007 – JaMarcus Russell, QB, Louisiana State
• 1962 – Roman Gabriel, QB, North Carolina State

Gene Upshaw	Howie Long	Tim Brown

Did you know?

Barring any trade action, the Silver & Black faithful will have to wait until Pick No. 48 for the Raiders to make their first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. That's because two years ago the team dealt its first-rounder to the Patriots for Richard Seymour.

The good news for Raiders fans is that at least this year's wait won't be nearly as long as what happened in 1963 when the team didn't pick until the 6th round.

The Raiders won just a single game in 1962 and made a wholesale change by bringing in a 33-year-old General Manger/Head Coach by the name of Al Davis. Intent on building a winner, Davis went to work evaluating his roster. According to his Raiders media guide, he had a three-year plan to address the weaknesses in personnel.

He, however, was hired after the draft that year so he had no bearing on the fact that the Raiders opted to deal each of their first five draft picks. Oakland traded the first-round pick to the Dallas Texas (aka Kansas City Chiefs), second-rounder to Buffalo, their third pick to San Diego and the fourth- and fifth-round draft choices to Houston. Those teams drafted some rather decent talent with the acquired picks, although some of the players opted to play in the NFL.

See the rundown the of the 1963 NFL and AFL drafts>>>

It wasn't long before Davis turned the fortunes of the franchise. He was able to capitalize on an ability to evaluate talent as he balanced a lineup of veterans with an infusion of players acquired through the draft. Davis delivered on his plan and the Raiders turned into winners that included their first AFL championship in 1967.

For the record, aside from 1963 and 2011, the Raiders went without a pick in the first round six other times including four straight years at the end of the '70s (1976-79), 1984 and 1989.

 

Quotable:

"He's a quality person and a quality athlete. He has all the receiving skills and he brings excitement to kickoff and punt returning."

Those words of praise came from then-Raiders coach Mike Shanahan following the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft that saw his team make three picks in the first round. The Raiders entered the draft with the sixth pick which they used on the Heisman Trophy-winning Brown, along with the ninth pick acquired through a trade with Houston. Excited, but mildly surprised, that Brown lasted that long, the Raiders then swapped their starting WR Dokie Williams and two draft picks to San Francisco for the 49ers first-rounder.

Of course, as history has shown, Brown proved Shanahan correct. And, it didn't take long at all. He returned his first-ever kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to kick start a career that saw him catch more than 1,000 passes.

Shop:

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Who in '11?

Post your comment about what are the Raiders biggest needs that can be filled through the 2011 NFL Draft.