It's hard to find 2011 NFL Mock Drafts that go beyond the firs or second-round, but if you do they will undoubtedly have CB Buster Skrine going to the Raiders.
If you are reading an article about the Raiders intentions in the upcoming draft chances are you know as well as I do that Al Davis likes speed. It seems that more often than not the fastest guy at combine winds up as a Raider once the draft is over.
Sometimes it pays off—like last year with Jacoby Ford—and other times it doesn't—like two years ago with Darrius Heyward-Bey.
The Raiders will likely have plenty of chances to draft the fastest man at this year's combine, cornerback Buster Skrine.
Prior to the combine Skrine was likely going to be undrafted. Now the Raiders aren't the only team interested in Skrine. They were among a handful of teams attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Pro Day to watch the two-time All-Southern Conference first team player perform.
Skrine doesn't just offer straight line speed either. He had fastest 60 yard shuttle in the combine, and the second fastest shuttle and L drill times, and ate 22 hot dogs faster than any other prospect (I made one of those up).
He also fits the recent draft mold of the high character young men the Raiders have been drafting. His college coach Ross Huesman had this to say, to PRWeb.com, about Skrine :
“He’s as good or better than everybody I’ve ever been around... I would love to have Buster for my own son. That’s the type of kid he is.”
Apparently Skrine leaves this kind of impression on many people. As he prepared for the NFL combine Skrine worked with the Parisi Speed School NFL Combine Program.
The program's director Martin Rooney offered this up, to PRWeb.com, about Skrine:
"Buster Skrine was one of the most determined and dedicated athletes I have worked with over the last 12 years in my NFL Combine program."
His attitude and leadership led to him being named team captain his senior season.
Skrine is going to need that speed, because at only 5'9" he is undersized, and he is raw. As SidelineScouting.com points out:
"Is still raw for a cornerback, not especially skilled in any particular facet of the position, will need some coaching to be successful at the next level."
At this point, I'd consider it a minor upset if a team beats the Raiders to Skrine in the draft. The Raiders are in need of CB depth, and they always are in need of speed.