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Pre-Draft Team Needs: Oakland Raiders
Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin
Senior NFL Reporter
Posted Apr 25, 2008

The Oakland Raiders are coming off of a 4-12 season yet were competitive most weeks. Here's a look at what positions we believe they need to address this weekend.

Players Added

Drew Carter/WR - The Raiders like to throw the ball deep and Carter gets down field well. He'll provide depth to their group of receivers.

Javon Walker/WR - If healthy, Walker can still make big plays in the passing game.

John Wade/C - He should have a few decent years left.

Kwame Harris/OT - The former disappointing first-round pick will take over at left tackle for Barry Sims who was released.

William Joseph/DT - The former underachieving first-round pick will get another chance to revive his career.

Kalimba Edwards/DE - He'll be used in a situational pass rushing role.

Gibril Wilson/FS - He should be a big upgrade over Stuart Schweigert.

DeAngelo Hall/CB - The team gave up a lot to get him from the Atlanta Falcons but Hall should prove to be an upgrade to this position for Oakland.
 

Players Lost

Daunte Culpepper/QB - He finally had a free agent visit with the Green Bay Packers.

Reshard Lee/RB - He didn't play last season due to injury.

Jerry Porter/WR - He signed a big free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Javon Walker will replace Porter in the starting lineup.

Tim Dwight/WR-PR-KR - The oft-injured receiver remains unsigned.

Jeremy Newberry/C - He's one of the better offensive linemen left in free agency.

Barry Sims/OT - Their former starting left tackle remains out of a job. Kwame Harris is slated to replace him.

Tyler Brayton/DE - The former first-round pick will come off the bench with the Carolina Panthers.

Chris Clemons/DE - The situational pass rusher will handle the same role with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chris Carr/CB - The dime back and kick returner will handle both roles this season with the Tennessee Titans.
 

Pre-Draft Team Needs

Defensive Tackle - The run defense was atrocious last season so they could use at least two run-stopping interior defensive lineman.

Defensive End - The team only has one true pass rusher on defense (Derrick Burgess). With Tyler Brayton gone, they could use at least two pass rushers out of this draft.

Strong-Side Linebacker - Undersized LB Robert Thomas handled this position for most of last season. The team could use a physical presence at this position.


Other Issues to Address

Wide Receiver

Linebacker Depth

Offensive Line Depth



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