2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft: Pick No. 8

Rd. # Player Pos. College 1 8 Trent Williams OT Oklahoma General Manager: damnitdamnitdamnit

With the eighth pick of the 2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Oakland Raiders select Oklahoma offensive tackle Trent Williams.

Here is damnitdamnitdamnit's reasoning for the pick:

My research shows that there are four major needs for the Raiders right now:

1-Offensive Tackle. Please see this link for why. When you are in the bottom five in the league in a category, you need change. On top of the deficiency, this team is looking to become a passing offense, thus the major investments in QB (J. Russell) and WR (DHB) the last couple of years. Don't forget, Al Davis likes speedsters, but you need to give your QB a little time for the fast guys to get open. Their O-Line was abysmal last year and needs some help.

Continued after the jump...

2-Cornerback. I know, I know, Nnamdi Asomugha is the best in the business, but he needs help. After significant investments in safety the last couple of years, there needs to be someone opposite Asomugha who can handle the greater pressure of the being second, and being the primary target of opposing QB's. It doesn't matter who is opposite "The Great One," except maybe the Jets' Revis, a revamped DL, or at least improved DL, which means that the secondary will get plenty of chances to make big plays, and they need both sides of the field making those plays.

3-Run Defense. Yup, that isn't a position, but it does need improving after a 29th place finish against the run last year. A good defensive tackle or middle linebacker would greatly help this aspect of their game.

4-A Lap-Band clinic down the street from JaMarcus Russell's house.

Some of you might be thinking that the Raiders need help on the pass rush, but they have improved this part of their game with the pick-ups of Richard Seymour and Kamerion Wimbley. How much that helps, I don't know, but it is enough to put their investment elsewhere.

Alright, onto the specifics! Of the above needs, the following players meet the criteria to be possible choices at #8 -

O-Line: Russell Okung, Bruce Campbell, Trent Williams, Anthony Davis, Bryan Bulaga, and Mike Iupati.
Cornerback - Joe Haden.
Run Defense - Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Rolando McClain.
Lap-Band Clinic - Unfortunately, you can't draft clinics, I don't think.

I think that the Raiders will be taking a close look at all of these players, but now that they are on the clock, they see that only the O-Linemen and Rolando McClain are available. Between the two, I think that LT provides much greater positional value than a MLB, and for the money guaranteed at #8, a LT is just a better investment.

Of the OTs left, I think that the decision is between...

Bruce Campbell, who has great measurables, is extremely athletic for his size, but needs some experience and has minor durability concerns.

Anthony Davis, great when he is in shape, but has character issues and I just can't see the Raiders taking another chance after the JaMarcus Fiasco.

Bryan Bulaga, great run-blocker with a good mean streak for moving the defense. Shorter arms and less natural pass-protection skills such as lateral movement than the other tackles listed.

Trent Williams, rapidly improving but possibly not an elite LT talent, questionable run blocking but all the necessary skills in the Passing game.

And the pick is... Trent Williams. Williams is a better pass-blocking prospect than Campbell and Bulaga, and that is what the Raiders need. All three are in the discussion of course, but I think Williams' game tape and good combine lead to him donning the silver and black.

Check out the 2010 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.