Oakland is on the clock

The clock has started and as we count down to April, we know that Oakland will be the first team to select in the NFL Draft. Now, with so many holes on offense, who would they take? Let's take a look at some options and I will theoretically predict who they will take in April, based on what I know now.

First, it appears that the offensive line needs to be addressed. Although I strongly agree with this conclusion, you must also consider that they need disciplined as well. Missing blocking assignments, looking left rather than right, and so on, cost this offense dearly in 2006. Even though OT Joe Thomas from Wisconsin was given a top three draft grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, Oakland can not risk taking him at #1 overall. He has had 2 knee surgeries in the last three seasons, and with the results from the Robert Gallery selection still hovering over Oakland like a black cloud, this would not be the best public relations move either. As for the offensive line, Oakland must address this issue later in the draft and via free agency. They will not take Joe Thomas with the #1 pick.

With concern over LaMont Jordan's health, why not take Adrian Peterson? Well, the front office likes Justin Fargas, and there is no need to spend 28 million dollars on a running back when LaMont Jordan is making 10.7 million over the next three seasons in salary alone, not including the bonus Oakland gave him. I agree that Adrian Peterson is the safest pick in this draft but Oakland won't select him.

The possibility of trading down for more picks is always intriguing but for the first overall, a team must be willing to give up 2 first round picks for that honor. Well, it won't happen. Oakland needs a money maker and an identity. Yes, an identity. Randy Moss is on his way out and LaMont Jordan may never be what he was in 2005 again. Plus, who can market a guy like LaMont Jordan. This is where Brady Quinn steps in.

Even though I think Brady Quinn is the wrong pick here, he better get ready to move to the Bay area. With the first pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders will select Brady Quinn, quarterback from Notre Dame. Like Van Wilder says, write that down! Sure, unless the offensive line is addressed like I recommended earlier in this column, Quinn will not have any time to throw plus he will be put in their to start from the get-go like David Carr in Houston. This pick might not make sense but when was the last time any Oakland decision made sense?

But, this pick makes perfect sense. It gives a great deal of hope to the distraught Oakland Raiders fans that walk the parking lot in their black and silver makeup and spikes. Quinn gives Oakland a face to market, like when Peyton Manning went to Indianapolis or when Michael Vick went to Atlanta. Quinn has tremendous talent, remarkable intangibles, and could give the media something "good" to talk about when the Raiders franchise is mentioned.

The kicker is that Al Davis is not too keen on drafting quarterbacks high. But like Glenn Dickey, he even agrees that Davis will have his chance at either Brady Quinn or Troy Smith. Bill Williamson from the Denver Post did mention that Oakland would pull the trigger on Brady Quinn if they ended up with the worst record in the NFL. Well, only time will tell but I agree. This is a no-brainer, Brady Quinn might even push the envelope for a 30-million-plus deal.