Oakland Raiders Mock 2010 Draft

I have been an Oakland Raiders fan since 1966, and I have been a draft-nik since 1982; mostly so I could figure out which would be the best picks for the Raiders to make each year. Needless to say it has been difficult to be a Raiders prognosticator the last few years. While Al Davis has mined a few gems, he has often been wrong about drafting great athletes that didn't translate into good pro football players.  With that being said, here is my 2010 Oakland Raiders mock draft.

The Raiders trade the eighth pick to the NY Giants in exchange for the Giants 15th pick in the first round, and their second round pick.  The Giants need to upgrade their pass rush and hope to get one of the top two safeties Eric Berry, or Earl Thomas.  They may also use this pick to steal DT Dan Williams from the Bills, or for DE Derrick Morgan.  The Raiders pick with the 15th pick: Tim Tebow, QB Florida.  This is Al's pick all the way and right up his alley.  Tim Tebow is the anti-JaMarcus Russell; fast, athletic, good character, hard worker, and a winner.  Al knows this is a bit of a reach but he realizes that if the Raiders are ever going to win  in his lifetime he needs a QB.

With the first of his second round picks Al picks Sean Lee LB Penn St.  The Raiders run defense has been very porous the last few years, and Sean Lee will plug up the gaping holes we've been seeing in the middle of the defense.  With their second pick of the second round the Raiders  pick Myron Lewis CB, Vanderbilt.  This is another classic Al Davis pick, he's tall (6' 1 1/2") and fast almost a Nnamdi Asoumough clone.

In the third round Raiders pick Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas.  Lamarr has the size Al covets, and plays with a high motor, high effort, intense style.

In the fourth round Raiders pick Zane Beadles, C, Utah.  Zane is listed as a guard or tackle in most draft guides, but Al converts him to center to give the team the tall, mean center it needs.

In the fifth round Raiders pick Brandon Carter, G, Texas Tech.  This may be a bit of a reach at this point, but it gives the Raiders a big, strong, mauler to help shore up the middle of the line.

In the sixth round the Raiders pick Darryl Sharpton, LB, Miami,FL.  Darryl doesn't have the size Al normally looks for but he knows that Miami linebackers are smart, well coached, and instinctive.  Darryl will make his mark the first couple of years as a special teams gunner.

In the seventh round the Raiders pick James Starks, HB, Buffalo.  A former teammate of Trevor Scott at Buffalo, James is big, fast, instinctive, and elusive.  He will make the ideal third back for the Raiders now that Huggy Bear's kid is no longer with the Raiders.

Well, there it is; my 2010 Oakland Raider mock draft.  Will any of these players become actual Raiders?  Only time and Al Davis can tell.