Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said the team might try something "not in Raider fashion" during this weekend's NFL draft.
Translation: Trade down.
The Raiders' history of moving up for players they covet in the draft is well known around the league. Don't expect that in the first round of this weekend's draft. The Raiders have just one pick Saturday – the fourth overall. They'll have four in Rounds 4 through 7 Sunday.
With no selections in rounds two and three, Kiffin could have a lot of free time if the Raiders don't make any deals to either trade down and acquire more picks or trade 2009 picks in order to grab more players now.
Kiffin expects the Raiders to continue talking with teams and would be "surprised" if the team ended the weekend with only five picks.
"I think I would be surprised because that's a long time to sit in the room without doing anything," Kiffin said.
Kiffin said there has been a lot to do the past two weeks and he and owner Al Davis speak daily.
There have been discussions with teams interested in the fourth pick, though Kiffin wouldn't divulge which teams inquired.
"There's been a number of calls," he said. "There's been a few serious conversations."
The Raiders' most likely trade partner would be a team looking to make a splash and perhaps land Arkansas running back Darren McFadden before he could fall to the New York Jets at No. 6 or snag Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. Kiffin said the Raiders wouldn't want to trade down into the end of the first round, but realizes there will be a chance to make a deal if it allows the Raiders to trade down for more picks and still land a player they want.
"There are going to be guys there that people are valuing, McFadden especially because he's so unique and so dynamic, there are a number of teams that want him, and some teams right behind us, maybe not one pick behind us, but two picks behind us, that really want him," Kiffin said. "When you're going back, there's got to be something they really want to come up. That's usually a quarterback or a phenomenal touchdown maker."
If the Raiders keep the fourth pick, defensive line remains the most pressing need.
Of the top three at that position – LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey, Virginia end Chris Long and Ohio State end Vernon Gholston – at least one will be available.
Kiffin said the Raiders could use help at either end or tackle. He added that even at a position the Raiders don't need help, such as running back, they could opt for a player that might be a star, leaving the door open to take McFadden.
It's clear the Raiders are open to doing something different.
"Something can happen any minute here," Kiffin said of a trade. "If that happens, it's more that we're looking at it and saying there's not someone there we just feel great about. Or the other way is if our guy is not there at that point we'll go ahead and deal with that Saturday, but we've got to wait until we're on the clock to make sure our guy's not there."
Read Jason Jones' Raiders blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
