After Further Review: Speed in the fourth
or, the Raiders get a burner ... who can play!
April 27, 2008
By Eric “Ace” Strauss, Raiderfans.net Staff Columnist
Fabian Washington gets upended
NEW YORK — After a long, long wait, the Raiders got the chance to make their second choice in the 2008 NFL Draft in today’s fourth round.
But first they had to move up from 104th to 100th overall, in a deal with Dallas, after Tennessee moved up to 103rd in a trade with Washington.
With that 100th pick, the Raiders grabbed defensive back
Tyvon Branch of Connecticut, who “blew up the Combine,” according to Pro Football Weekly, running a 4.33 40-yard dash at 6-foot, 205 pounds.
That was Oakland’s first selection since tabbing Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick.
The Raiders dealt the 104th pick and their first of two seventh-round picks, 213th overall, to the Cowboys.
Branch, who can play cornerback or free safety as well as return kicks, was a two-year starter for the Huskies who ran back two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2007.
He’s known for his speed, as a former New York Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year, but not his hands, described by Pro Football Draft Guide as “terrible” — he had only three career interceptions.
He has plenty of other physical tools, however, with Pro Football Weekly describing him thus:
“Excellent size. Can flat-out fly. Very good upper-body strength. … Outstanding closing speed. … Is physical vs. the run. Strong tackler.”
Ourlads’ Scouting Services likewise touts his “rare speed and good athletic ability” and Lindy’s mentions his “rare top-end speed.”
Branch is not the stereotypical Raiders all-measurables, no-football-skills player. He is also given credit in scouting reports as a team leader and defensive signal caller, and his intelligence and awareness are also considered pluses.
He also can help out on special teams in more ways than returning kicks. PFW says he “provides special-teams value as a kick returner and gunner,” and Pro Football Guide says he was “great returning and covering kicks.”
The fourth round, in the past the opening round of Day Two, was the second round of the second day this season, under the NFL’s revamped draft format that saw only two (shorter) rounds conducted here yesterday.
The Raiders are slated to have only five picks in the 2008 NFL Draft, the team’s fewest ever.
The Raiders traded their second-round pick to Atlanta as part of the deal for cornerback DeAngelo Hall, and sent their third-round pick to New England on draft day last year in order to move up and take offensive tackle Mario Henderson of Florida State in the third round. Oakland also sent its fifth-rounder to Denver last season for defensive tackle
Gerard Warren, and acquired Minnesota’s seventh-rounder from the New York Jets.
Washington wound up with the second-round pick and chose wideout Devin Thomas of Michigan State. San Diego wound up with the third-rounder, and chose running back Jacob Hester of LSU.
Hall is expected to start at left cornerback opposite
Nnamdi Asomugha, replacing the combination of 2005 draftees Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt, while Henderson will compete for the job at right tackle with veteran Cornell Green and fellow youngster Paul McQuistan, a third-round pick in 2006.
Henderson, widely considered a project, appeared in only one game as a rookie.
The fourth-round has been something of a “black hole” for the Raiders over the past decade. Of the fourth-round choices since 1998, only two of eight — the players chosen last year, who played a combined two games — remain on the roster.
Recent Raider fourth-round picks:
• 1998: Gennaro DiNapoli, guard, Virginia Tech — traded in 2000
• 1999: Dameane Douglas, receiver, California — cut in camp in 1999
• 2000: Junior Ioane, defensive tackle, Arizona State — cut in camp in 2003
• 2003: Shurron Pierson, end/linebacker, South Florida — traded in 2004
• 2004: Carlos Francis, receiver, Texas Tech — cut in camp in 2007
• 2006: Darnell Bing, linebacker/safety, USC — cut in 2007
• 2007: Michael Bush, running back, Louisville; and John Bowie, cornerback, Cincinnati
After Further Review: Speed in the fourth
Win, lose or tie...Raider 'til I die ! 
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