Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt

mushin with the pick...

The Raiders would have loved to have Sean Smith CB/S from Utah fall here, but they’ll need to look later in the draft to fill this need as there are not safeties worthy of the pick. Not a problem. The Raiders line needs help, bad.  They had the 29th ranked offense last year. (Take that Raiders! The Chiefs were 24th. I call that a victory) During the offseason they signed Khalif Barnes, giving them a legitimate LT to protect their young QB. That leaves the hole on the right side. And in the words of a porn star, if you have a hole, you fill it with the biggest thing you can find.

Enter Phil Loadholt. This guy is a mountain of a man. He’s 6’8, 338, and in the words of Mocking Dan over at SB Nation, “Could probably get bigger if he wanted to.” His size alone should have Cable, a former O-line coach, drooling all over himself. (A lot like Al when it’s Tapioca Tuesday at the old folks home.)  Loadholt can step in on day one and open holes for Oakland’s stable of RB’s. Most projections have him better suited to play right tackle than left. He lacks the ideal speed and footwork, in the eyes of many scouts, to be an upper echelon left tackle in the NFL. But he did play LT for the highest scoring offense in NCAA history last year.

He dominates smaller ends, though he struggles with elite pass rushers. Brian Orakpo had a field day with him. Some of the concerns with him are complex schemes and dumb penalties. Perfect Raider.

CBS Sports has a great scouting report on him.

Though nobody but moms and scouts want to watch tackle highlight reels, I included this one in case you were bored on a Monday night.

Round 1 is here.

Previous pick: G Duke Robinson

Read more: Scouting Report (Mocking the Draft)

On the clock for tomorrow: Green Bay Packers (JasonM) and Buffalo Bills (ArrowDread)

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