1. Oakland Raiders - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
With the first pick in the MVN football writers’ mock draft, the Oakland Raiders select Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson.
By Patrick Patterson, Thoughts From the Dark Side
Al Davis loves speed. Al Davis loves athletic specimens. Al Davis wants to win now. Al Davis will select Calvin Johnson with the first pick in the NFL Draft. CJ is 6′5″ 235 and runs a 4.35 40 yard dash. He is a big target who is fast. I am sure that Al has been salivating over him since the end of last season.
The general consensus says that the Raiders should select a quarterback with this selection, but Al Davis has a long standing aversion to selecting a quarterback in the first round. I also believe that he still has a high degree of confidence in the abilities of Andrew Walter. As a football man he knows that Walter did not have time to do anything in the pocket last year. In the words of Jerry Porter, “if Andrew dropped back three steps he had three guys on him, and if Andrew dropped back seven steps the coach would be on him.”
The Raiders already have a sizable stable of receivers in Porter, Randy Moss, Ronald Curry, and Doug Gabriel. I predict that Al has an offer for Randy in his pocket that will be exercised before the first day of the draft is over.
Al Davis and Lane Kiffin have repeatedly said the bulk of the problems with last year’s offense was not the players, but the coaching. That says that they do have faith in the players that are on the offensive side of the ball. That would not indicate that a huge change would be in order, as in drafting a quarterback with the number one overall pick.
There has been a lot of talk with Al Davis and the Raiders being enamored with LSU’s JaMarcus Russell. He does have the big arm that Al covets, but Al does not have the patience at this time to develop a rookie quarterback. Especially not with Andrew Walter, who Davis had at the top of his draft board two years ago, still on the roster and haven already taken a few knocks to get past his rookie jitters.
Another wise choice would be Joe Thomas OT from Wisconsin because the offensive line was the weak link of the Raiders 2006 offense, but an offensive lineman is never a sexy pick. This is the number one overall pick, and the Raider Nation wants a sexy pick that will put points on the board. The Nation is still steaming over the pick of the much maligned Robert Gallery. Thomas and Gallery would likely make great bookend tackles, but Gallery’s thus far stunted development makes that pick problematic for the Raiders.
Calvin Johnson will step in and be the deep threat receiver that Al Davis covets. His presence on the field, and lack of a sulking Randy Mossish attitude will bring a spark to the offense. CJ’s ability to run precise routes, something that Moss never has cared much to do, will help him build a rapport with Walter as they will grow together in the vein of Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. (I am not saying they will reach that level of production, but I do hope.)
- Here’s the scouting report on Johnson from Dan Wernery of MVN’s NFL Draft University in his positional rankings of receivers:
In an era with selfish jerks such as Terrell Owens and Randy Moss it is refreshing to see a kid with this kind of talent act like a professional. At 6-5 230 lbs he has a tight end body but has the explosion of a top WR in the NFL. He understands how to position his body to make a tough catch better than any college WR in recent memory. Johnson is the most talented receiver to enter the draft since Randy Moss.
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MOCK DRAFT PICKS
- Trippiedi’s Final Two-Round Mock Draft
- MVN writers mock draft: 32. New York Giants - S Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State
- MVN writers mock draft: 30. Green Bay Packers - CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
- MVN writers mock draft: 29. San Francisco 49ers - T Gosder Cherilus, Boston College
- MVN writers mock draft: 28. Dallas Cowboys - WR Mario Manningham, Michigan
- MVN writers mock draft: 27. San Diego Chargers - T Sam Baker, USC
- MVN writers mock draft: 26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Quentin Groves, Auburn
- MVN writers mock draft: 25. Seattle Seahawks - RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
- MVN writers mock draft: 24. Tennessee Titans - DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina
- MVN writers mock draft: 23. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
- MVN writers mock draft: 22. Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
- MVN writers mock draft: 21. Washington Redskins - DT Trevor Laws, Notre Dame
- MVN writers mock draft: 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
- MVN writers mock draft: 19. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Limas Sweed, Texas
- MVN writers mock draft: 18. Houston Texans - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
- MVN writers mock draft: 17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Phillip Merling, Clemson
- MVN writers mock draft: 16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
- MVN writers mock draft: 15. Detroit Lions - DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
- MVN writers mock draft: 14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
- MVN writers mock draft: 13. Carolina Panthers - OT Ryan Clady, Boise State
- MVN writers mock draft: 12. Denver Broncos – OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
- MVN writers mock draft: 11. Buffalo Bills - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
- MVN writers mock draft: 10. New Orleans Saints - CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
- MVN writers mock draft: 9. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
- MVN writers mock draft: 8. Baltimore Ravens - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
- MVN writers mock draft: 7. New England Patriots - LB Keith Rivers, USC
- MVN writers mock draft: 6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
- MVN writers mock draft: 5. Kansas City Chiefs - G/T Brendan Albert, Virginia
- MVN writers mock draft: 4. Oakland Raiders - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
- MVN writers mock draft: 3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
- MVN writers mock draft: 2. St. Louis Rams - DE Chris Long, Virginia
- MVN writers mock draft: 1. Miami Dolphins - OT Jake Long, Michigan
- Mock Draft 3.0: Round 1
- Mock Draft 3.0: Round 2
- NFL Draft University Mock Draft 2.0: Picks 1-7
- NFL Draft University Mock Draft 2.0: Picks 8-15
- NFL Draft University Mock Draft 2.0: Picks 26-31
- MVN NFL Mock Draft - First Round Picks 1-10
- MVN NFL Mock Draft - First Round Picks 11-20
- MVN NFL Mock Draft - First Round Picks 21-31
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9 Responses to “1. Oakland Raiders - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech”
April 9th, 2007 at 11:00 am
“I am sure that Al has been salivating over him since the end of last season.”
At least Al Davis is putting that track suit to some use.
April 9th, 2007 at 11:19 am
The 2007 draft will have teams who need immediate help at the skill areas with players that will be passed over and keep the balance of power the same unless organizations wake up.
The Raiders need a qb. Vince Young may not be as good as Russell.
Take the qb Al.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
There are three players I see as about as “sure-fire” as it gets in this draft: Johnson, Brady Quinn, and Adrian Peterson. He should be able to produce good numbers for the Raiders regardless of the QB, much like Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona.
(unless Champ Bailey is covering him, of course. :) )
Patrick, with Johnson in the fold, what you think this would mean for the future of Moss and Porter in the Silver and Black?
April 9th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Al Davis is the one who’s calling the shots in Oakland.
Davis loves the “home-run” plays.
He’s got half the component necessary in Randy Moss.
All he needs is a quarterback that has a big arm.
JaMarcus Russell has a cannon and can reportedly throw the ball 85 yards.
During his pro day, Russell showed that he can excel at throwing the deep ball.
Russell has all the physical tools in the world.
The Raiders need the “franchise QB” more than they need a WR.
Also, Randy Moss was at his best when he played with Dante and caught the deep ball. With Russell at the helm, Randy Moss should return back to his Pro-Bowl form.
April 10th, 2007 at 3:08 am
to Nick:
“I predict that Al has an offer for Randy in his pocket that will be exercised before the first day of the draft is over.”
That is what I think of what will happen to Moss. Porter will be around another year or more. I see Johnson, Porter, Curry, & Gabriel being the depth chart at WR.
Oh yeah, Porter owns Bailey anyway. ;)
April 10th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Al Davis isnt going to get the big play with Andrew Walter at QB…i think they go with Russell at #1
April 18th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I think Andrew walter will make a good back up QB.
I also think that Oakland should take J.Russell with the # 1 pick.then focus on beaffing up the OL if we do that I think we will have a great team on both sides of the ball.
07 could be are year Raider Nation
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Andrew Walter needs to be given a real chance. If the Raiders would’ve drafted a QB such as Leinart last season, he would’ve been the one on his back 72 times. Last year’s troubles were the fault of the coaches and the outdated offensive scheme. Everyone is ready to just bury Andrew Walter but there isn’t any QB, Peyton Manning included, that could’ve successfully orchestrated last year’s offense, Wait until the second round, get a quality QB, and let him compete for the starting job against Andrew Walter. Honestly, if the rumors are true and the Bucs really did offer 4 first day picks for the top pick, the Raiders need to pounce on it. Drop down to number four and grab Joe Thomas. Either that, or pick Calvin Johnson and watch him sell tickets. Trade Moss for whatever you can get for him and start building a dynasty. Lane Kiffin will get it done.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:10 am
paul thompson out of ou paul gundy is a diamond in the rough.i cannot in my wildest imagination understand why he is not on somebody roster he has a good football mind i am not a scout but i have played and coached kid all of my adult life and i can read talent when i see it. somebody in your organization should take a look see at this young man and maybe have a talk with paul gundy about his versitility and his football mind.thank you for allowing me to comment
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