Yesterday we looked at the five-best draft picks in the history of this great organization. Interestingly enough, all of those selections took place over a quarter century ago. This morning, we check in on the five-worst NFL draft picks in Oakland Raiders history. Surprise, they are all relatively recent, ,most within the last two decades or so.
Without further ado, let’s get on with the futility.
1. JaMarcus Russell, Quarterback (First Round, First Pick in 2007)
Russell was considered a can’t-miss prospect heading into the 2007 NFL draft. He had the size, arm, build and athleticism to represent what many considered the new breed of quarterback.
Here is what ESPN’s Todd McShay had to say about Russell…
I can’t remember being in such awe of a quarterback in my decade of attending combines and pro days. Russell’s passing session was the most impressive of all the pro days I’ve been to.
His footwork for such a big quarterback was surprising. He was nimble in his dropbacks, rolling out and throwing on the run. The ball just explodes out of his hands.
Heck, even Mel Kiper was drooling all over Russell immediately after the selection was made.
Three years from now, you could be looking at a top-five, elite quarterback. The skill level that he has is certainly John Elway-like.
It really was a no-brainer for the Raiders. They were coming off a two-win 2006 campaign that saw Andrew Walter (yeah that one) lead the team in passing yards while combining for three touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Overall, Oakland quarterbacks tallied seven touchdowns, 24 interceptions and a 56.2 rating that season.
The reason why Russell ranks No. 1 on this list is because he became the quickest No. 1 overall pick in the history of the league to bomb out, being forced out of the NFL after just 25 career starts.
A combination of off-field issues and downright disastrous play led to Russell’s downfall. Overall, the former standout from LSU put up a 7-18 record with 41 turnovers and 18 touchdowns in parts of just three seasons with Oakland.
Unfortunately for Oakland, a ton of stellar NFL players were eventually selected immediately after Russell that April. Calvin Johnson went No. 2 to the Detroit Lions, while Joe Thomas went third and Adrian Peterson heard his name called by the Minnesota Vikings with the sixth pick. Imagine any one of those players on the current Raiders team. For that alone, Russell needs to be No. 1 on this list, even if its a pick that nearly ever team would have made if put in the same situation.
2. Rolando McClain, Linebacker (First Round, Eighth Pick in 2010)
Courtesy of SF Gate
Ouch. Possibly worse than the Russell pick simply because McClain wasn’t a consensus selection here. Again picking in the top 10, Oakland picked McClain ahead of the likes of C.J. Spiller, Anthony Davis, Earl Thomas, Mike Iupati, Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant.
Spiller was likely off the board due to the existence of one Darren McFadden on the roster, but all these others players were considered solid options near the top of the 2010 NFL draft. Oakland was coming off a 2009 campaign that saw its offense put up 12.3 points per game, which ranked 31st in the NFL.
The idea here was to add a franchise linebacker to an otherwise unimpressive defense. However solid that decision seemed at the time, McClain obviously wasn’t up to the task. He played three seasons with the Raiders before being released prior to the 2013 campaign for a combination of off-field incidents and horrible play on the field itself.
McClain was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, menacing, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in the city limits after holding gun to a guys head in his home state of Alabama. The former NFL linebacker was sentenced to 180 days in jail after being convicted, per ESPN.com.
After briefly catching on with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason, McClain was again arrested and decided to call it quits from football. He ended up starting just 38 games for the Raiders in three seasons.
3. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide Receiver (First Round, Seventh Pick in 2009)
Jake Roth, USA Today: Heyward-Bey has to go down as one of the five-worst NFL draft picks in Oakland Raiders history.
This selection could have very well topped the list. After all, Michael Crabtree was the consensus No. 1 wide receiver in that draft class. In one of his final decisions as the decision maker in Oakland, the late Al Davis, true to his past, selected the burner instead of the all-around receiver.
Heyward-Bey would start 11 games as a rookie, recording just nine receptions. Just to show you how bad he was as a rookie, the former Maryland standout dropped five of the 38 passes thrown in his direction. That’s four less drops than receptions for those who aren’t exactly good at math.
While Heyward-Bey would put up nearly 1,000 yards in his third year with the Raiders, he was never a starter-caliber receiver in four below-average seasons with the team.
Not only was Crabtree selected just three picks later, numerous wide receivers out of the 2009 draft class have had better careers than Heyward-Bey. This list includes, but is not limited to: Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks and Mike Wallace.
4. John Clay, Offensive Tackle (First Round, 15th Pick in 1987)
Most of you probably haven’t even heard of Clay, and that’s precisely the point here. The offensive tackle was taken with the 15th overall pick in the 1987 draft out of Missouri where he earned All-American honors in his final season with the Tigers. Los Angeles was looking for a franchise left tackle to protect its investment at quarterback, Marc Wilson, who barely missed this list as a first-round pick in 1980.
It wasn’t to be.
Clay played just one season with the Raiders, starting a total of nine games. Think about that for a second, guys/gals. As a first-round pick, Clay was so bad that the Raiders decided to cut ties after just nine NFL starts.
Whenever a player’s Wikipedia page is less than the introduction of this article, it’s never good.
If we are just looking at offensive tackles, Harris Barton and Bruce Armstrong were the only two players at that position to go in the first round of the 1987 draft. Both were selected after Clay and combined for eight Pro Bowl appearances.
5. Patrick Bates, Safety (First Round, 12th Pick in 1993)
Bates played two season with the Raiders, starting a total of nine games and recording just one interception. He was out of the league in just three years. Not exactly what you’re looking for in a defensive back that was taken right outside of the top 10.
It got so bad for Bates and the Raiders that the former NFL safety had the following to say to The New York Times after he departed the Raiders for the Atlanta Falcons in 1994…
You cannot do a job effectively if you have misery going on,” Bates said about his time as a Raider. “If anyone gets to the point in their life where their job is miserable, I would say they need to carefully evaluate that situation.
That’s what I did. I took a year to get my feet underneath me and to reflect on my life outside of football. I looked through the years. Now I am in a place with the Falcons where there are real cats, real dudes, real people. It’s a comfort. This is where I belong.
Unfortunately, Bates didn’t necessarily belong in Atlanta. He lasted one season with the team before being exiled from the NFL altogether.
Dishonorable Mention
Michael Huff, Safety (First Round, Seventh Pick in 2006)
Robert Gallary, Offensive Line (First Round, Second Pick in 2004)
Bob Buczkowski, Defensive End (First Round, 24th Pick in 1986)
Eldridge Dickey, Wide Receiver (First Round, 25th Pick in 1968)
Photo: USA Today, Stock