The Oakland Raiders didn't exactly have a lot to play with at the 2012 NFL Draft last week, so their lack of immediate impact players was understandable. Despite not selecting until the end of the third round, the guys at NFL.com still managed to give the team a 'C' for their picks at the draft.
Here is a bit more on their selections, including a possible sleeper candidate for Carson Palmer to throw to.
Best pick: Tony Bergstrom, OT, Utah (Round 3, 95).
As a big, physical blocker with a nasty demeanor, Bergstrom will add toughness to the Raiders' gritty offensive line. He will vie for a starting spot as a rookie and could be a long-term solution at a perennial problem area for the team.Questionable pick: Miles Burris, OLB, San Diego State (Round 4, 129).
This is a tough category, considering the Raiders' lack of picks. Burris faces an uphill battle in grabbing a starting spot, but a role as a core special teamer is certainly not out of the question as a rookie.Sleeper pick: Juron Criner, WR, Arizona (Round 5, 168).
Criner took a surprising plunge down the charts, despite a very productive career at Arizona. He is a big, physical pass catcher with sneaky speed and quickness. He could thrive as a No. 3 receiver for the Raiders.
Again, it's tough to find any sure-things this late in the draft, but it does seem like the Raiders did a nice job of addressing the glaring issues on their roster. Criner slipping all the way to the fifth round was very surprising (most mock drafts had him going in the second round) and could be a huge pick for Oakland down the road.
For more on the Raiders and the rest of their draft picks, check out Silver and Black Pride.