2005 Record: 4-12
Points For: 290
Points Against: 383
Rushing Yards PG: 85.6
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 128.1
Passing Yards PG: 223.9
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 202.7
Drafted:
1.7 (7) - Michael Huff, S, Texas  
2.6 (38) - Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP  
3.5 (69) - Paul McQuistan, OT, Weber St.   
4.4 (101) - Darnell Bing, S, USC  
6.7 (176) - Kevin Boothe, OL, Cornell  
7.6 (214) - Chris Morris, C, Michigan St.   
7.47 (255) - Kevin McMahan, WR, Maine (Supplemental Compensatory Selection)
Comments:
Wow, didn’t those Vince Young rumors die almost as quickly as they started.  Obviously, they would never had gotten a chance to take Young, but still, it was almost as solid as Reggie Bush going number one overall.  But, we all know how that went.

So, with Young off the board, the next logical train of thought was the Raiders going with Matt Leinart with their first rounder.  Not so much.  Instead, the Raiders went with the best available player, who happened to be the very versatile Huff.  Huff has the ability to play anywhere in the secondary and can play both the pass and the run.  He’s a hard hitter and should become what Charles Woodson was supposed to.

Howard can fall back into coverage and run very well.  But that isn’t a surprise considering he used to play defensive back for UTEP.  As solid (definitely not gamebreaking) as Howard is, I think this pick was a little bit of a stretch in this round.

McQuistan was a solid choice and should settle in at the line for the next decade.  Bing will be converted to linebacker with the Raiders and he should adapt to the position well.  I know this much about Boothe – he’s a smart guy.  I mean, he did go to Cornell, right?  Other than that, I am dubious to his adjustment from an Ivy League school to the NFL.  Morris should be like McQuistan and eventually settle in at the line for a long time.  McMahan is this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant,” a title which may not end here as I don’t know if he’ll make the cut after camp.
ENDSCORE GRADE: C+