We continue to take a stroll down memory lane with regards to the Las Vegas Raiders’ drafts of the previous decade.
Up next, the Ramble looks back at the sixth round in all its glory. While the seventh round hasn’t been too kind to the Silver and Black, the sixth round’s a different story. Though former general manager Reggie McKenzie did have a blunder making D.J. Hayden the 12th overall pick in 2013, he did much better in the later rounds. In fact, the drafts in the McKenzie era tended to have quality players in the mid to late rounds. This culminated in the team finally breaking through for a playoff appearance in 2016 under his auspice.
Nevertheless, let’s take at the Raiders’ haul from the previous decade in the sixth round of the player’s selection meeting, shall we?
Here are the Raiders’ sixth-round draft hauls
2019: None
2018: Azeem Victor
2017: None
2016: Cory James
2015: Max Valles
2014: None
2013: Nick Kasa, Latavius Murray, Mychal Rivera, and Stacy McGee
2012: Christo Bilukidi
2011: Richard Gordon
2010 Travis Goethel
Unlike the seventh round in that decade, the Raiders were able to find several players who not only played but were starters such as Cory James who made 14 career starts from 2016 through 2017. In the process, James accumulated two forced fumbles, one pass defensed, and nine tackles for a loss. For those that are keeping track, James was a starting linebacker during the Raiders’ last winning season in 2016.
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Who was the best of the bunch for the Raiders?
As far as that 2013 haul, it was an impressive one, so impressive, the Raiders have yet to replicate it since. The Silver and Black landed a Pro Bowl running back, a starting tight end, and defensive tackle. Stacy McGee started 18 games for the Raiders, compiling one pass defensed, one sack, and one tackle for a loss. Mychal Rivera played four seasons in Silver and Black, starting 15 contests and hauling ten touchdowns. In 2014, his sophomore campaign, Rivera totaled 534 receiving yards, getting targeted 99 times by Derek Carr.
The biggest acquisition from that 2013 class was arguably running back Latavius Murray. After a pedestrian rookie campaign in which he only started three games, things got going in 2015. That year, Murray rushed for 1,066 yards, amassed six rushing touchdowns, and earned a Pro Bowl nod. Unfortunately, by 2017 he was scoring touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings, however, it goes to show how deep McKenzie drafted during this time.
What are your thoughts on the sixth round this past decade, Raider Nation? Much better than the seventh obviously, but stay tuned as we continue to cover each round this offseason.
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*Top Photo: Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group