Round 3: Pick 68 Clive Walford, TE, Miami
Highlights:
Comment: Are you sure this guy is a Tight End? Looking at this guy's highlights, this guy can not only catch in the middle, but he can catch on the outside. He can run after the catch, he fights for extra yards, you can line him up almost anywhere, and he can make contested catches. Some of his weaknesses though, he has to improve on his blocking. Reading from the profile, he's gradually improving in that aspect. Other weaknesses do indicate he struggles with some drops and his speed can be somewhat misleading just from interpreting from what the scouts say. But I say this is a great pick for the Raiders as it gives Derek Carr more weapons offensively and if Walford continuously improves his blocking while being that ideal security blanket, Mychal Rivera's days could be numbered with the Raiders, although it would be wise to keep both, especially in the red zone if the Raiders are going to draw up end zone pass plays in a two tight end set.
Grade: A-
Round 2: Pick 35 Mario Edwards Jr., DE, Florida State
Highlights:
Comment: I have a feeling that this has Linebackers Coach Sal Sunseri's name written all over this pick considering he was the Defensive Ends Coach for the Seminoles last year. Some of the notes that I read off Edwards is that he can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 as defensive tackle in a 4-3 or defensive end in a 3-4; he's like a poor man's Leonard Williams. Looking at his highlights, he's pretty solid at stuffing the run and doesn't get fooled very often when teams are running read option plays, play action, or any other trick plays. He just stays home and wait for the play to develop before he could make a play. Reading his weaknesses, it is said that he doesn't have any explosiveness when coming off the edge and it depends on his weight on which position he can play whether end or tackle. If he's over 300, he's playing DT, but if he can shed some of that weight, he is able to play DE. I really don't know about this pick; he was projected to end up in the 3rd round. I look at this as a project pick for the Raiders a la Menelik Watson. I thought Preston Smith or Owamagbe Odighizuwa would be the pick if the Raiders were to address the need at defensive end. Mario Edwards fills a need, but I think this was somewhat of a reach to take him that early in the 2nd round.
Grade: B+
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