Raiders may be leaning to Russell with No. 1 pick in draft
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfldraft&prov=st&type=lgns
April 27, 2007
NEW YORK (TICKER) -- JaMarcus Russell has the strongest arm of any quarterback in an NFL draft since Michael Vick in 2001. Is that enough to convince Al Davis to select the Louisiana State star with the No. 1 overall pick on Saturday?
Davis, the 77-year-old owner of the Oakland Raiders, passed on quarterbacks Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler in the last three NFL drafts and his team has paid for it.
Finding a franchise quarterback is clearly the biggest need for the Raiders, who are 15-49 since losing Super Bowl XXVII after the 2002 season. Oakland had just seven touchdown passes from its quarterbacks last season. That's 24 less than running back LaDainian Tomlinson scored for the San Diego Chargers
The Raiders set franchise records for most losses (14) and fewest points scored (10.5 per game) last season. Quarterback Aaron Brooks was released last month and backup Andrew Walter had three touchdowns with 13 interceptions in 12 games.
In 2004, Davis had a chance to take either Rivers or Roethlisberger with the second overall pick after quarterback Eli Manning was selected first. Instead, Davis took tackle Robert Gallery, who has been a disappointment.
Last year, Leinart, who led Southern California to two national championships, and Cutler were still on the draft board when Davis took safety Michael Huff with the seventh overall pick.
On Saturday, Davis probably can't afford to pass up the chance to take Russell or Brady Quinn of Notre Dame.
Many NFL executives and scouts regard Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson as the top player in the draft. But the Raiders have too much money invested in the wide receiver position with Randy Moss and Jerry Porter.
Oakland likely would need to trade one of the receivers if it intends on taking Johnson. But new Raiders first-year coach Lane Kiffin tutored Carson Palmer and Leinart at Southern California and probably wants Davis to select Russell or Quinn.
The 6-5 Russell declared for the draft after his junior year. He has enormous upside and the strongest arm scouts have seen since Vick was drafted No. 1 overall in 2001.
Russell is not as fast as Vick, but he's bigger and stronger than the Atlanta Falcons' electrifying quarterback and soundly outplayed Quinn in the Sugar Bowl in January.
Russell's ability to throw on the run makes him a perfect fit for Oakland, which yielded a league-high 72 sacks last season. Russell passed for 3,129 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing nearly 68 percent of his passes last season and led LSU to a 25-4 record as a starter.
Quinn is Notre Dame's all-time leader in passing yards and was coached the last two years by Charlie Weis in a pro-style offense. However, some scouts compare Quinn to Joey Harrington, a bust as the third overall pick in 2003.
The Detroit Lions took Harrington then and now they have the second overall pick after another dreadful season. Lions president Matt Millen may consider taking a quarterback, although offensive coordinator Mike Martz fully supports Jon Kitna, who threw for 4,208 yards but was second in the NFL with 22 interceptions last year.
If Johnson is available, the Lions may pounce on him. But selecting Johnson would be difficult for Millen, who already used a first-round pick on a wide receiver three consecutive seasons (Charles Rogers in 2003, Roy Williams in 2004 and Mike Williams in 2005). Rogers is gone, Roy Williams has flourished and Mike Williams has been a bust.
Millen may trade down a few spots for extra picks and select either Clemson
defensive end Gaines Adams or Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas in the first round.
"I have no idea where I'll end up," Adams said. "But I'm enjoying every bit of this experience."
The Cleveland Browns own the third pick. Quinn is from Ohio and wants to play for the Browns and coach Romeo Crennel is close with Weis after both served together on numerous coaching staffs. Weis has often compared Quinn to two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.
If general manager Phil Savage is not that enamored with Quinn, then he may take Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. Cleveland signed running back Jamal Lewis to just a one-year contract in the offseason before trading Reuben Droughns.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the fourth selection and coach Jon Gruden would love to add Johnson, the 6-5, 239-pound receiver with game-breaking speed and terrific hands. Johnson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the scouting combine.
"We could trade up or down," Buccaneers general manager Bruce Allen said. "We're certainly in position to draft an impact player."
The Arizona Cardinals, who fired Dennis Green and hired Ken Whisenhunt as coach after a disappointing season, pick fifth overall followed by the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans.
Johnson would be a perfect fit for the Falcons, who have long been seeking a playmaker for Vick.
"He (Johnson) played here at Georgia Tech and is a tremendous player and person," Falcons general manager Rich McKay said. "But in these cases, you have to look at the cost of moving up and how it affects the team."
Atlanta has an extra second-round pick it could use to move up in the first round after trading backup quarterback Matt Schaub to Houston.
Last year, the Texans created quite a stir when they passed on Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and hometown quarterback Vince Young and selected defensive end Mario Williams No. 1 overall.
Adams, LSU safety LaRon Landry, Michigan cornerback Leon Hall, Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye and Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis are the top defensive players available.
The Seattle Seahawks are the only team without a first-round pick, sending it to New England for wide receiver Deion Branch last season.
The draft will be held at Radio City. The first three rounds will be held on Saturday with the next four on Sunday.
