Draft Links

Free agency explained | Draft links
Raiders free agents | 2005 Raiders draft picks

Note:  Many of the resource links below are still 2004, but draft resources are now coming online for '05. And most tend to use the same URL each year.

1. History
2. Resources
3. Current Articles

A.  History

Raiders first-round draft picks

• Since the team's inception

Past Raiders drafts (since returning to Oakland)

• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1999
• 1998
• 1997
• 1996

Past NFL drafts

• 1982-2004 - sorted every which way (team, year, position, college . . .), on NFL.com. Look here for Raiders drafts from 1982 through 1995.

Past Raiders drafts

• 1960-2004 - in list form, not sorted or in a database (no internal rankings for 1960-61). On Raiders.com.

B.  Resources

NFL Trade Value Chart

• Here's a very useful chart which helps calulate the relative trade value of different draft picks. It doesn't say when it was calculated, but it's on a subscription site, which means it ought to be relatively current.

Other Resources

• 2005 NFL Draft wrapup - a lot easier on the eyes than most of the draft trackers with their tiny font sizes
  Sacramento Bee, Apr. 25, 2005

• NFL Draft Tracker - authoritative; compensatory picks were announced during the owners' meeting
  NFL.com

• Yahoo! Sports 2005 NFL Draft Picks - also authoritative; shows trading teams in all picks acquired by trade (NFL.com doesn't do that)
  Yahoo! Sports

• Ourlads 2005 draft sequencer (authoritative) - Ourlads is the heavy duty scouting service, whose publications the NFL clubs' scouts buy
  Ourlads Scouting Services

• 2005 DRAFT SELECTION ORDER - the Great Blue North Draft Report, maintained in Canada by Colin Lindsay, is the best of the amateur sites, and a first-rate site in any regard; site shows all "traded from" info
  Great Blue North Draft Report

• ESPN Draft Central - easy navigation, and, unlike last year, most areas look to be free rather than subscriber-only
  ESPN.com

• 2005 Draft Early Entries
  The Sports Network

• Raiders draft update
  Contra Costa Times, Apr. 18, 2005

• Raiders Draft Central - what's there isn't entirely correct; it appears someone at Raiders.com can't count - see my comments on the Raiders draft choices page
  Raiders.com, undated

• DraftHistory.com
  Fun reading if you like trivia; incredible array of stats and charts. You could spend hours here with no difficulty . . .  Also lots of PDF publications for past drafts available at reasonable prices.

• once first-rate, this fan site has slipped several notches . . .  it's still entertaining, however, with numerous features and daily updates
  

• Top 200 NFL Draft prospects - top 200, prospect rankings by position
  USA Today, undated

C.  Articles

Articles

Disclaimer:  The focus of this site is not the draft. After all the noise and hoopla, most of those picked in the draft in any given year play 1-2 years in the NFL and are gone. So . . .  the coverage here isn't exhaustive. That said, you will find the major developments or stories covered here.

• Raiders may wheel and deal more today
  Oakland Tribune, Apr. 23, 2005 (InsideBayArea.com)

• Raiders have shown willingness to trade up in previous drafts  (site requires free registration)
  San Jose Mercury News, Apr. 23, 2005

• Offensive prospects for 70th NFL draft  (site requires free registration)
  Contra Costa Times, Apr. 20, 2005

• Defensive prospects for 70th NFL draft  (site requires free registration)
  Contra Costa Times, Apr. 20, 2005

• Deals in the works
  Yahoo! Sports, Apr. 19, 2005

• Johnson a mystery to scouts - that's OLB Derrick Johnson, widely labeled the best defensive prospect in this year's draft
  Cleveland Morning Journal, Apr. 19, 2005

• Redskins Get First-Round Pick From Denver
  Associated Press, Apr. 19, 2005 San Francisco Chronicle

• Redskins get first-round pick from Denver - Phillip Buchanon's name figures prominently in this report out of Washington
  Associated Press, Apr. 19, 2005 (San Jose Mercury News)

• Raiders' draft schemes are under camouflage
  Sacramento Bee, Apr. 18, 2005

• Expect a run on rushers, receivers
  Sacramento Bee, Apr. 18, 2005

• Raiders go it alone in scouting for draft
  Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Apr. 18, 2005

• By acquiring Moss, the Raiders have made this a successful draft before it begins  (site requires free registration)
  Contra Costa Times, Apr. 18, 2005

• Team capsules for NFL draft - AP writer Barry Wilner's capsules
  PackersNews.com, Apr. 16, 2005

• Reputation precedes NFL Draft prospect - How would you like to be the son of Anthony Muñoz?
  Scout.com, Apr. 15, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• AFC draft needs: Team-by-team breakdown Pete Prisco has, for Oakland: DT, LB, S, CB, G
  CBS Sportsline, Apr. 14, 2005

• Must see TV
  NFL.com, Apr. 13, 2005

• Oakland Raiders 2005 Draft Preview
  The Sports Network, Apr. 13, 2005

• Draft Day Wants and Needs - Team-by-Team
  The Sports Network, undated (appeared 4/12/05)

• NFL Draft scouting report: Cornerbacks
  USA Today, Apr. 10, 2005

• Mock first round - what will Browns do?
  The Sports Network, undated

• MOCK DRAFT 9.0: Bears may pick RB at No. 4
  Sporting News, Apr. 10, 2005 (FOXSports)

• Draft outlook: Safety
  Scout.com, Apr. 10, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• NFL Draft: Scouting The Quarterbacks
  Scout.com, Apr. 10, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• 2005 NFL mock draft - first 2 rounds mocked
  Draft Insiders' Digest, Apr. 8, 2005 (USA Today)

• High anxiety / NFL teams no longer want the top picks in the draft - novices sometimes ask, why wouldn't teams want high draft picks? Dr. Z explains
  SI.com, Apr. 7, 2005

• Baas heads strong crop of centers
  ESPN.com, Apr. 7, 2005

• Draft outlook: Cornerback
  Scout.com, Apr. 7, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• The catch of the draft - Charles Robinson's Top 10
  Yahoo! Sports, Apr. 6, 2005

• Five up, five down
  SI.com, Apr. 5, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• NFL Draft Preview: Kickers - not exactly a Raiders need—Oakland has the NFL's top kicking game—but we like to be thorough 
  Fanball.com, Apr. 1, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Draft outlook Defensive tackle
  Scout.com, Mar. 30, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• NFL Draft Preview: Quarterbacks
  Yahoo! Sports, Mar. 30, 2005

• Nash gaining momentum - RB Damien Nash of Missouri - the Raiders are mentioned
  Scout.com, Mar. 28, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Rodgers tops 49ers' wish list
  San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 25, 2005

• Rodgers looks good in workout - the Raiders had people there for the workout
  Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Mar. 23, 2005

• Draft Outlook: Quarterback
  SilverandBlack.com, Mar. 13, 2005 (Scout.com)

• Mike Williams: Impresses Scouts in Private Workout
  RotoWire.com, Mar. 11, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Pro day report: Mike Williams
  Yahoo! Sports, Mar. 11, 2005

• Vic's picks: Top 5 offensive tackles in draft
  NFL.com, Mar. 6, 2005

• The 2005 Combine comes to an end
  SilverandBlack.com, Mar. 1, 2005

• The 2005 Combine comes to an end
  Scout.com, Mar. 1, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Winners and losers
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 28, 2005

• Linebacker takes it one step at a time
  San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 28, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• The 40 takes the spotlight
  Associated Press, Feb. 28, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Long-retired punter didn't come up short on this test - fun reading, about the Wonderlic test given at the Combine; includes a mini-test you can try
  Sacramento Bee, Feb. 28, 2005

• Quick thinking
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 27, 2005

• Combine notebook: DJ's play list
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 27, 2005

• Position outlook: Safety
  Scout.com, Feb. 27, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• LIVE 2005 NFL Combine Coverage - cable TV schedule
  Scout.com, Feb. 27, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• More Players Show, Some Legends Grow
  Scout.com, Feb. 27, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Weird science of scouting  (site requires free registration)
  San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 27, 2005

• SCOUT IT OUT  (site requires free registration)
  San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 27, 2005

• Timing is everything
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 26, 2005

• Combine notebook: Searching for the truth
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 26, 2005

• Saturday Combine Report  (requires the Windows Media Player, the [free] RealPlayer, or [probably] a comparable streaming audio player)
  Raiders.com, Feb. 26, 2005

• NFL Combine Buzz Day Three
  Scout.com, Feb. 26, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• NFL QB job tall order for Rodgers?
  Sacramento Bee, Feb. 26, 2005

• NFL combine notes: QBs Campbell, Frye give 49ers options
  Sacramento Bee, Feb. 26, 2005

• Linemen bringing some swagger to NFL
  Associated Press, Feb. 26, 2005 (San Jose Mercury News)

• NFL Combine Buzz Day Two
  Scout.com, Feb. 25, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Friday Combine Report  (requires the Windows Media Player, the [free] RealPlayer, or [probably] a comparable streaming audio player)
  Raiders.com, Feb. 25, 2005

• For players, NFL scouting combine is an otherworldly experience
  Sacramento Bee, Feb. 25, 2005

• Combine notebook: Running backs in business
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 24, 2005

• Weak crop at the top (cont.)
  SI.com, Feb. 24, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Who's No. 1? - rating the Combine prospects
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 24, 2005

• Combine Report  (requires the Windows Media Player, the [free] RealPlayer, or a comparable streaming audio player)
  Raiders.com, Feb. 24, 2005

• Who's No. 1? - a top 10 list
  Yahoo! Sports, Feb. 23, 2005

• Top-10 picks of the last decade - Gil Brandt doesn't rate them, only lists them for all NFL teams
  NFL.com, undated (appeared 2/21/05)

• NFL combine is useful tool  (site requires free registration)
  St. Paul Pioneer Press, Feb. 21, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Vic's picks: Top 5 quarterbacks in draft
  NFL.com, Feb. 15, 2005 (appeared 2/19/05)

• Swap would help Raiders, 49ers
  Oakland Tribune, Feb. 19, 2005 (InsideBayArea.com)

• Vic's picks: Top 5 wide receivers in draft
  NFL.com, Feb. 18, 2005

• NFL hopefuls to get a good look - a long list by Gil Brandt, unranked and in no particular order
  NFL.com, undated

• Big Hitting DB Waiting For Opportunity
  Scout.com, Feb. 16, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Vic's picks: Top 5 running backs in draft
  NFL.com, Feb. 16, 2005

• NFL Prospect Profile: QB Dan Orlovsky
  Scout.com, Feb. 16, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• NFL Prospect Profile: WR Taylor Stubblefield
  Scout.com, Feb. 15, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Another Look At The Draft - a fan sees the Raiders trading down in the first for an extra second-rounder
  Raidernews.com, Feb. 15, 2005

• NFL Europe Free Agent Draft - all 8 rounds - these are players who weren't allocated by NFL teams, i.e., they're not under contract to NFL clubs
  Scout.com, Feb. 14, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Mock Draft - Don Banks' mock first round
  SI.com, Feb. 13, 2005

• Draft on the move
  Scout.com, Feb. 9, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• NFL to move Draft
  SI.com, Feb. 9, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Draft Preview / The First Two Rounds - a fan's view
  Raidernews.com, Feb. 9, 2005

• Post Senior Bowl ILB/MLB Rankings
  Scout.com, Feb. 8, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Post Senior Bowl DE Rankings
  Scout.com, Feb. 8, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Prospect Interview: Eric Green
  Scout.com, Feb. 6, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Interview with Fred Gibson
  Scout.com, Feb. 6, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• 2005 DRAFT PICKS AND AGENTS - about 125 players and their agents, in no particular order
  ProFootballTalk.com, Feb. 3, 2005

• Post Senior Bowl Center Rankings
  Scout.com, Feb. 3, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Post Senior Bowl Tackle Rankings
  Scout.com, Feb. 3, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Underclassmen list
  Scout.com, Jan. 23, 2005 (Yahoo! Sports)

• Players granted special eligibility for draft - i.e., underclassmen
  NFL.com, Jan. 19, 2005

Last updated Monday, April 25, 2005