The Raiders would never listen to any of the draft experts, except the one whom they hired as general manager.
In a defensive tweet Friday, the Raiders’ official Twitter account defended the team’s curious selection of offensive tackle Alex Letherwood at No. 17 overall. “Regardless of what any 'draft expert' said, GM Mike Mayock and Coach Gruden saw a starting right tackle in Alex Leatherwood,” the tweet reads.
Twitter users were quick to point out that Mike Mayock previously worked as a draft analyst for NFL Network. Gruden also used to cover the draft for ESPN, running his annual “QB Camp,” and verbally slobbering over every prospect.
In the aforementioned Raiders.com article, Mayock says Leatherwood was the “highest-rated player” on Las Vegas’ board when they selected him. If that’s the case, the Raiders were in the vast minority. Leatherwood was widely expected to be taken Friday.
The pick was so surprising, some speculated Gruden simply selected Leatherwood for his surname. It’s not an implausible scenario.
Reaching in the first round is a Raiders tradition, regardless of who’s in charge of the draft board. Their first-round selection last year of cornerback Damon Arnette was also panned.
But at least Arnette got to enter the NFL in peace, without an embarrassing tweet forever being associated with his name.
Keep Mark Davis away from the Internet.