Raiders have had successes, failures with No. 24 overall NFL draft pick

Share

Drafting a good NFL player at No. 4 overall shouldn’t be hard. There are only three members of a draft class unavailable to choose from, meaning high-quality talent's there for the picking even at premium positions.

The Raiders have a layup from that spot. All they have to do is finger roll it off the glass and in.

There’s a bit less certainty at the No. 24 overall position. That’s where the Silver and Black’s second first-round draft pick lies. That selection’s part of a larger compensation package Chicago gave up for All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack.

The Raiders know firsthand that spot can be a bit of a crapshoot. They have selected No. 24 overall five times, with varied results.

Tight end Raymond Chester was their first crack at the 24th pick, and it’s safe to say they nailed that one. Cornerback Gareon Conley was selected in that spot in 2017, and should be a long-term solution if he stays healthy.

They also took quarterback Todd Marinovich in that slot, and he played just eight games, never established himself in the pros and has battled well-documented substance abuse issues. Defensive end Bob Buczkowski also had his issue in the mid-1980s and didn’t make it through two seasons with the Raiders.

There are gems to be found at No. 24 overall. Here’s a list of some of the best picks. If the Raiders will be thrilled to find a player who does as much as some of these top pros:

BOOMS

-- QB Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay, 2005): How on earth did he last this long?
-- S Ed Reed (Baltimore, 2002): One of the best safeties of all time.
-- WR Eric Moulds (Buffalo, 1996): Had nearly 10k yards and 49 touchdowns in 11 seasons as a primary starter
-- RB Chris Johnson (Tennessee, 2008): As good a runner as there was in his heyday.
-- DE Cameron Jordan (New Orleans, 2011): A rock along the Saints front with 71.5 sacks, and was a first-team All-Pro in 2017.

The 24th pick can also go the other way, as the Raiders well know:

BUSTS

-- QB Todd Marinovich (Los Angeles Raiders, 1991): He was discussed earlier, but this immense talent never lived up to great potential. As was well documented, the Raiders took him before Brett Favre.
-- DL Reggie McGrew (49ers, 1999): He had one career sack and didn’t contribute much in his time with the 49ers.
-- CB Willie Middlebrooks (Denver, 2001): Never established himself with the Broncos and started just two games over four seasons in Denver and one with the 49ers.

Contact Us