As the 2011 NFL Draft kicks off later today, Oakland Raiders fans might be watching, but will likely not be as tuned in due to the lack of a first round pick. The Raiders unloaded this year’s first round pick in the deal to acquire Richard Seymour just prior to the start of the 2009 season.
In two seasons with the Raiders, Seymour has emerged as a strong leader for the Raiders and a fierce present on their defensive line. And of course he earned fans nationwide when he punched Ben Roethlisberger in late November.
The Raiders have made some odd trades in years past, but this deal for Seymour has paid solid dividends. While Raiders fans might be disappointed they don’t get to pick today, one can very reasonably argue that Seymour was worth the pick. It was a costly deal, but the Raiders have done pretty well for themselves in adding Seymour. Now it’s just a matter of figuring out what to do with the rest of their picks.
The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28thand SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it – NFL mock drafts draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it all out at SB Nation’s NFL Hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft. Lastly, for more Oakland Raiders coverage, check out our team blog Silver And Black Pride.