Pick No. 8: Oakland Raiders

By Chris Shellcroft
Just Blog Baby.com

This marks the fifth consecutive year that the Oakland Raiders will be drafting in the top 10. Being that Al Davis has picked a quarterback, running back and wide receiver in the last three years you’d assume that the most basic needs have been addressed. You know like, I don’t know, protecting the $60-million quarterback so he has time to find his $38-million wide receiver and open holes for his $60-million running back.
 
Oh that’s right, Al addressed that need way back in ’04 when he selected Robert Gallery.
 
Gallery has tiptoed around the bust label but let’s be honest. When you draft a left tackle second overall, a dominant guard isn’t what you hope he’ll become. That’s a little like buying a bottle of Louis XIII cognac and taking a sip only to discover you’d purchased XO. Not the worst thing that could happen but it certainly is nowhere near what you paid for.
 
In 2009 the Raiders boasted one of the most dubious accomplishments in NFL history. Left tackle Mario Henderson allowed the most sacks in the league and right tackle Cornell Green amassed more penalties per snap than any offensive lineman in the league. And you thought JaMarcus only completed 48% of his throws because he doesn’t know what color jersey his teammates are wearing.
 
With that being said, Mr. Davis has a dilemma on his hands: Do you go with the fastest defensive back (Taylor Mays) or the fastest offensive lineman (Bruce Campbell) in the draft?
 
The answer is simple.

You must think in the most illogical fashion possible.
 
Who has more use for raw speed in the game football? The safety of course.
 
Therefore with the 8th pick in the 2010 Mock Draft among Blogs, the Raiders select:
 

***Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland***

 
The hope is that this Bruce Campbell will lead the Army of Darkness in Oakland by anchoring the woeful offensive line.
 
He has been called the “offensive line version of Vernon Davis”. Does that mean it will take Mike Singletary banishing him from the sideline mid-game to live up to his potential? Probably since Campbell is a raw talent who has major upside but is seen as a major gamble. Oh…almost forgot to mention his injury concerns as well.
 
What’s more Al Davis than that?
 
Too bad for Al that Singletary coaches that team on the other side of the Bay Bridge. I guess a Tom Cable jaw breaker will have to suffice for motivational tactics instead.

For the sake of the franchise this pick has to pay immediate dividends. With all the money being handed out in Oakland these days you’d assume this team has been wearing the AFC West crown and not the dunce cap for the last seven years.

The Buffalo Bills, and its representative, Buffalo Sports Now, are on the clock.

No Logo Needed's 2010 Mock Draft Among Blogs:

1. St. Louis Rams: Joe Sports Fan
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

2. Detroit Lions: The Wayne Fontes Experience
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs Central
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

4. Washington Redskins: The Curly R
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs Report
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

6. Seattle Seahawks: Dave Krieg's Strike Beard
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

7. Cleveland Browns: No Logo Needed
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee

8. Oakland Raiders: Just Blog Baby
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

9. Buffalo Bills: Buffalo Sports Now
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Black and Teal
11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago Bears): Bronco Talk
12. Miami Dolphins: Playoff Bound Sports
13. San Francisco 49ers: Niners Nation
14. Seattle Sehawks (from Denver Broncos): Dave Krieg's Strike Beard
15. New York Giants: Ultimate NYG
16. Tennessee Titans: Music City Miracles
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina Panthers): Niners Nation
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers Today
19. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcoholic
20. Houston Texans: Houston Die Hards
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Bengal Stripes
22. New England Patriots: Blauhg: A New England Patriots Blog
23. Green Bay Packers: Lombardi Ave
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Iggles Blog
25. Baltimore Ravens: The Ebony Bird
26. Arizona Cardinals: Voice of the Cardinals
27. Dallas Cowboys: Blogging the Boys
28. San Diego Chargers: Bolt Hype
29. New York Jets: Jets Twit
30. Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota Sports Zone
31. Indianapolis Colts: The Indy Football Report
32. New Orleans Saints: MooseDenied