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Raiders

DRAFT WHISPERS

There is strong speculation the Raiders are trying to package their two first-round draft choices (No. 31 and No. 32 overall) to land a pick higher in the first round. They can afford to make such a move because they don't have many immediate needs on an established team fresh off a Super Bowl appearance. If the Raiders are successful in trading up, as they did last year to draft CB Phillip Buchanon, they will look to take a player who can make an immediate impact toward another run at the Super Bowl. The team will then likely use its remaining picks to add rookies it can groom as replacements for its aging core players.

TARGETING

The Raiders will likely take a defensive end with their first pick because it is the position most in question. Starter Tony Bryant's future is clouded after a season-ending spine injury, and Trace Armstrong is 37 and has had two season-ending injuries in two years. That leaves DeLawrence Grant as the only healthy returning end. If the Raiders don't trade up, DEs Chris Kelsay of Nebraska and Dewayne White of Louisville are possibilities. With their other first-round pick, the team will likely select a strong safety to compensate for the departure of starter Anthony Dorsett and the inconsistent play of 2001 first-round pick Derrick Gibson. Southern California's Troy Polamalu will probably be gone late in the first round, but Ohio State's Mike Doss could slip. In later rounds, the team will likely pick a wide receiver to groom until Jerry Rice and Tim Brown retire; select a running back to push aging veterans Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley; find a strongside linebacker to take over for Bill Romanowski eventually; and target an offensive tackle to replace Lincoln Kennedy in a year or two. The Raiders are expected to draft the best player available, unless they find a player capable of stepping up fast.