NFL SI
Oakland Raiders
Without question, this was one of Oakland's best drafts top-to-bottom in recent memory. OLB Khalil Mack will be the face of the defense, while QB Derek Carr could carry the same mantle on offense. G Gabe Jackson, DT Justin Ellis and CB Keith McGill all ought to play early. Even Round 7 produced a couple of worthwhile projects in CB T.J. Carrie and S Jonathan Dowling. This is how your rebuild a team.
Grade: A
Bryan FischerNFL.com College Football 24/7
Passed with Flying Colors
Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack (5th), Derek Carr (36th), Gabe Jackson (81st), Justin Ellis (107th), Keith McGill (116th), Travis Carrie (219th), Shelby Harris (235th), Jonathan Dowling (247th).
The skinny: The Raiders continued to draft well on Day 3. Ellis was a guy a few folks had higher on their boards and has all the physical attributes you want in a defensive tackle. McGill is a big defensive back who should help them out in the division. Despite all the picks after 200, Reggie McKenzie found some good players.
Pete Prisco
CBS Sports
Oakland Raiders: If they hit on second-round quarterback Derek Carr, this could be a huge draft for them. That's a big if. First-round pick Khalil Mack will be a pass-rush star. Reggie McKenzie did a nice job with his first four picks.
Grade: B
Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com Around the League
Oakland Raiders
If Khalil Mack was in last year's draft, he would have been the No. 1 overall pick. The Raiders finally got a premier talent to build their defense around, and they didn't fall too hard in love with free-agent pickup Matt Schaub. We have no clue if Derek Carr can deliver as a franchise quarterback, but the Raiders need to keep spending resources on young quarterbacks until they find one who fits. The Raiders then focused on interior muscle with their next two picks.
"I feel like the Raiders have gone four-for-four with their draft selections so far," NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock said during the draft.
Steve Corkran
Oakland Tribune
- Raiders – It would be hard to go wrong with the No. 5 pick in a draft regarded as one of the deepest and most talented in years. Still, it's hard to envision things going much better for the Raiders than they did in this draft, at least in the first two rounds. Linebacker Khalil Mack fell in their laps, even though he was regarded by some as the best player in the entire draft. Quarterback Derek Carr lasted until the second round, which enabled the Raiders to take a chance at finding a long-term solution at a position that has been in flux since Rich Gannon retired. General manager Reggie McKenzie also might have found a starting guard in Gabe Jackson. If nothing else, he improved the depth on his roster with his final six selections.
[Top Grade in AFC West
Derek Carr is lucky to learn from Matt Schaub, a great guy and leader who'll do everywhere he can to help the rookie learn the game. — John McClain (@McClainonNFL) May 9, 2014
