Raiders draft
All signs point to the Raiders taking LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 overall pick in the April 28 NFL Draft.
This is the first time the Raiders have held the No. 1 overall pick since the American Football Conference (AFL) draft of 1962. That year the Raiders selected quarterback Roman Gabriel No. 1 overall. Unfortunately, the L.A. Rams of the NFL also took Gabriel No. 1.
The Raiders have selected only four quarterbacks with a first-round draft pick through the years dating to 1962. Eldridge Dickey was their 25th overall choice in 1968, Marc Wilson went 15th overall in 1980 and Todd Marinovich went 24th in 1991.
Gabriel never played for Oakland; Dickey was converted into a receiver, and Marinovich managed to remain on the roster for all of, a-hem, two seasons. Wilson, the gem of this group, managed eight seasons and is scattered among Raiders records (OK, under interceptions).
Will Russell break the trend?