The Raiders have taken some criticism for drafting Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood with the 17th-overall pick.
Considering the Raiders are still waiting on a few recent first-round picks to play like first-round picks, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that they aren’t getting the benefit of the doubt on the Leatherwood pick, either. Most mock drafts had Leatherwood going in the second round, and many felt the Raiders could have traded down and still drafted him.
Nevertheless, it does sound like the majority of media pundits valued Leatherwood a little less than where NFL teams valued him.
Had the Raiders chosen to trade down, it doesn’t sound like they could have moved back many positions and still had an opportunity at Leatherwood. According to Denver radio host Ben Allbright, the Ravens were “100 percent” targeting Leatherwood with one of their first-round picks (Baltimore owned picks 27 and 31).
If the Raiders did “reach” a little to take Leatherwood, they at least did it at the right position. They had a huge need at right tackle and the offensive coaching staff has shown what they can do with raw talent along the offensive line. Kolton Miller had a host of technical flaws when the Raiders drafted him in 2018, but his physical traits (minus the fact that he needed to get stronger) were all there.
Miller ended up being the first round-one draft pick from the 2018 class to have his contract extended.
Now Leatherwood is getting similar critiques to what Miller saw three years ago, but the 22 year-old Alabama tackle may actually have a higher ceiling than Miller – and we know Leatherwood is already built like an NFL tackle.
In fact, he’s been built like an NFL tackle practically since he was a freshman in college.
twitter: @raidersbeat
This is just Raider hating. If the Patriots or the Seahawks or the Packers had picked Alex Leatherwood they were considerate genius and be doing nothing but extolling the virtues and his incredible abilities and potential in the future. The Raiders could have selected Tom Brady in the 7th round and they would have said it was a reach.
Yeah he was being targeted by other morons with histories of bad drafting just like us‼️ Seriously Leatherwood ❓‼️‼️🤬🤬🤬
Regardless if it’s true or not your still going to have a bunch of fools that know so much more than mayock and gruden ….if it was up to them we wouldn’t have a 1st or 2nd round pick for the next 3 years but we would have Deshaun Watson as our starting qb for a year or so before he either gets suspended or decides hes not happy with the RAIDERS and wants to be traded again….if it was up to them we’d have jok at 17 even though he was skipped till pick 52…so who cares they are going to whine either way
Alex Leatherwood was an excellent pick at #17 and he could be another Trent Brown or Art Shell. In fact, this year’s Raider’s draft was excellent across the board for all 7 rounds. I see two immediate starters in Leatherwood and Moehrig and a mid season starter in Deablo. I have followed the Raiders since 1972 and know talent when I see it. Tyree Gillespie could also become a starter either this year or next. It may take the Raiders another year to develop a top notch defense (they still need a prolific linebacker or two, but they can address that next year). I like overachievers like Hobbs and Morrissey and I hope they make the team! The Raiders have drastically improved their defensive line and secondary. Their offense is top notch except for the fact that they are lacking a WR playmaker (perhaps Julio Jones is the answer to that — if not they need to get one in free agency or the 2022 draft). Ruggs will be a decent short and intermediate range WR and maybe with time a long range WR like Cliff Branch.