Finding the Fits: Don't overlook Walford among Raiders' rookies – CBSSports.com
Clive Walford should see plenty of balls from Derek Carr in Oakland. (USATSI)
This is part of a series — Finding the Fits — in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2015 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.
Oakland’s best fit: TE Clive Walford, Miami, No. 68 overall
It isn’t surprising that all of the buzz on rookies following the Oakland Raiders‘ OTAs and minicamps was dedicated to No. 4 overall pick and reigning Biletnikoff Award winner Amari Cooper. After all, among all of the players at his position available in the 2015 NFL draft, he offered the greatest combination of size, speed and polish after starring in a pro-style offense for a powerhouse against elite competition.
Fortunately for the Raiders (and too often overlooked by media and fans) is that Walford, the Raiders’ third round pick, checks off all of these boxes, as well.
Cooper (more on him later) was drafted to start immediately. Barring injury, he’s a virtual lock to lead Oakland in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in 2015. Walford offers more athleticism and grit as a blocker than incumbent starting tight end Mychal Kendricks, who finished second to since jettisoned wideout James Jones among all Raiders’ pass-catchers last season.
Like Cooper, Walford is a naturally gifted athlete with prototype size (6-foot-4, 251), agility and soft hands. Also like Cooper, Walford showed an impressive work ethic in college to take full advantage of his traits, steadily improving in his conditioning, blocking at the point of attack, route-running and in cleanly catching the ball. He left Miami as the school’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards among tight ends, which is quite the accomplishment given that standouts Jimmy Graham, Greg Olson, Kellen Winslow, Jr. and Jeremy Shockey preceded him over the past 20 years.
It isn’t just the production and traits that cause Walford to stand out, however. He is a particularly intriguing in Oakland’s new up-tempo offense because of his versatility and upside. He lined up as a traditional in-line tight end at Miami, as well as playing on the move or even out wide. That’s the kind of flexibility new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was used to seeing while operating as the quarterback coach for Chip Kelly in Philadelphia. Further, given that Walford only played one year of high school football, it is a testament to his football I.Q. and work ethic.
“We saw Clive as a complete tight end,” general manager Reggie McKenzie said after the Raiders selected him. “He’s not only a receiver or a blocker-type guy only. He’s a guy that’s big and strong enough to pound it versus the D-linemen, and he can flex out and run the routes and be that pass receiver.”
Other thoughts on the Raiders’ 2015 draft class:
Of course, the real beneficiary of the new, more aggressive offense that Musgrave is bringing with him to Oakland is Cooper and second-year quarterback Derek Carr. The Raiders are already gushing about their prized rookie receiver, lauding his self-starter mentality, savvy route-running and vacuum hands. A source attending Oakland’s workouts to this point characterized Cooper as “indefensible” to this point and that is with Carr mostly sidelined with a finger injury. The 6-foot-1, 211 pound Cooper may be even faster on the field than the blazing 4.31-second time he registered in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, consistently shaking himself free of defenders because of his incredible fluidity. Given the relative lack of top-flight cornerbacks in the AFC West, the frequency he’s likely to be targeted and Carr’s considerable talent and familiarity in a spread offense, Cooper could very well be the favorite at this point to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
In much the same way that Cooper was drafted to complement Carr, McKenzie and defensive-minded head coach Jack Del Rio nabbed Mario Edwards, Jr. as a running mate for Khalil Mack, a burgeoning star, himself. Given that he signed with FSU as the top prep prospect in the country three years ago, Edwards wasn’t as productive as expected and some have labeled him as an under-achiever. Sources within Florida State’s program were quick to point out that Edwards, who only recently turned 21, was asked to bulk up to play the 3-4 defensive end position, which contributed to his weight fluctuating between 275 and 315 pounds during his time in Tallahassee. Even at his heaviest, Edwards was considered by the staff to be among the team’s most versatile athletes and he led the team with 11 tackles for loss (including three sacks) last year. Edwards was even asked to peel off into coverage, at times. Quick, agile and powerful, he can play the role of edge rusher in Oakland or slide inside to defensive tackle in much the same way that the Raiders used to utilize Lamarr Houston. Perhaps the best indication of Oakland’s comfort with Edwards was that new Raiders’ linebackers coach Sal Sunseri pushed for him prior to the draft. Sunseri, a 31-year coaching veteran, spent the past the two seasons in Tallahassee working Edwards and the rest of the Seminoles’ defensive ends.
He won’t prove as flashy as Oakland’s top three picks but fourth rounder Jon Feliciano could also push for significant playing time as a rookie. He’s a tough guy with the power and short-area quickness to fit in quickly in new offensive line coach Mike Tice’s attack.
Of Oakland’s Day 3 picks, the upside of former Virginia Cavaliers’ standout Max Valles is particularly intriguing. The Raiders are moving the 6-5, 251 pound Valles to defensive end after he led the Cavs with nine sacks at outside linebacker in just his second year in the program. Valles, still just 20 years old, played receiver and safety in high school and is about as raw as they come at this point so he may not make an impact for a year or two. With additional strength and technique, however, he could ultimately prove a steal.
Oakland’s 2015 draft class:
- 1st Round, No. 4 overall: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
- 2nd Round, No. 35 overall: DL Mario Edwards, Jr, Florida State
- 3rd Round, No. 68 overall: TE Clive Walford, Miami
- 4th Round, No. 128 overall: OG Jon Feliciano, Miami
- 5th Round, No. 140 overall: OLB/ILB Ben Heeney, Kansas
- 5th Round, No. 161 overall: OLB Neiron Ball, Florida
- 6th Round, No. 179 overall: DE Max Valles, Virginia
- 7th Round, No. 218 overall: OT Anthony Morris, Tennessee State
- 7th Round, No. 221 overall: WR Andre Debose, Florida
- 7th Round, No. 242 overall: CB Dexter McDonald, Kansas
Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:
Read more about all of Oakland’s picks here.
Read all of the Finding the Fits series here.
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