The Raiders just fired the head coach Dennis Allen after another predictable but incredibly disappointing 0-4 start. Like the Jaguars, the Raiders just can’t seem to shake this consistent rut they are in of year to year ineptitude. Since they lost the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay in 2002, the Raiders have not had a single winning season or playoff berth. And based on the way this season has started they don’t look like they’ll be fixing that anytime soon. The biggest culprit for that is of course the draft picks. And the worse your team is and the worse you draft, the less quality free agents become interested in joining you. Unfortunately all marquee players have completely lost faith in the Raiders’ organization and their ability to turn things around. I didn’t even include Darren McFadden on this list, mostly because he was awesome for a short time and would have been a star if it wasn’t for injuries. You can make a strong case for him belonging too, though. When you look at the team’s misfortune, look no further than these five draft picks as the reason for their struggles:
5. Robert Gallery, G/T, Iowa – 2nd pick overall in 2004
His selection was a good decade ago now, but for 2nd overall it still deserves mention. Gallery did give the Raiders 7 years of service and that alone is much better than every guy on this list. After two mediocre years at right tackle, though, the Raiders decided to move Gallery to left tackle – the position they originally drafted him for. There he was a complete and utter disaster before getting injured, but only after giving up 10.5 sacks from that position in less than a full season. After that, the Raiders moved him to guard where he was serviceable for a while. His career ended in 2012 when he didn’t make the Patriots’ 53 man roster. Even though that was a long time ago, the Raiders could still be enjoying that selection if they had taken Phillip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Larry Fitzgerald, Steven Jackson and many more Pro Bowlers. If they really wanted a tackle, better selections would have been Chris Snee or Max Starks.
4. D. J. Hayden, CB, Houston – 12th pick overall in 2013
I think I’m already prepared to call this pick a huge bust. Hayden played very poor football last season before suffering a serious injury that would cost him the season and land him on IR. He’s currently on the PUP list this season and won’t play for at least 6 weeks. He was the second corner taken in the draft over guys that have been much better in the last year and a half like Xavier Rhodes, Desmond Trufant, Darius Slay, Robert Alford, Tyrann Mathieu and more. I’m pretty sure the Raiders would prefer any of those guys over Hayden and would gladly take a do-over on this selection.
3. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland – 7th pick overall in 2009
The Raiders made the cardinal sin mistake of drafting a guy based on his measurables instead of his football skills with a top 10 pick. His sub 4.3 40 speed was so attractive the Raiders drafted Heyward-Bey as the first receiver over Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin, Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and others in the 2009 NFL draft. Heyward-Bey is on the Steelers’ roster currently but has not caught a pass this season and the end of his NFL career already seems very near. He did have one decent season in 2011 where his 975 yards receiving were a career best, but his poor routes, hamstring issues and drop problems have plagued him during his tenure. He lasted only four mediocre years with the Raiders.
2. Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska – 23rd overall in 2005
This was a big turning point in the Raiders’ history, because they went with Washington and the next guy picked was Aaron Rodgers. Now Rodgers may never have been this special if he didn’t study under Brett Favre, but we’ll never know. What we do know is Washington lasted just six seasons in the NFL as a poor starter at corner and left the game with 6 career interceptions. Roddy White and Logan Mankins are two others that were picked right after Washington as well. There are also way too many corners to list that turned out better drafted behind him.
1. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU – 1st pick overall in 2007
This one is well documented and it’s a mistake that will probably haunt the Raiders for a very long time. Russell is widely thought of as the biggest draft bust in NFL history along with Ryan Leaf of the Chargers. Russell had horrible work habits, a drug problem and general poor character and the Raiders clearly didn’t do their homework in evaluating him because, big surprise, they fell in love with his measurables and potential. Russell played just three seasons and had 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions for his career, with a completion percentage of just 52.2%. He was 7-18 as a starter. Just think of some of the players the Raiders could have had instead: Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch, Darrelle Revis… you get the idea. If it’s any consolation, though, the only quarterback that’s really amounted to anything in this class was Kevin Kolb and the jury is still out a bit on him.
