Oakland Raiders

Raiders’ draft picks at a glance: Obi Melifonwu, Eddie Vanderdoes

Bee Sports Staff
File - In this Sept. 12, 2015, file photo, Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu (20) follows the play during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Army, in East Hartford, Conn. UConn, one of several programs being mentioned as a candidate for expansion by the Big 12, is dealing with something new in head coach Bob Diaco’s third season as its head football coach _ expectations. The defense, which gave up just 19.5 points per game, is expected to be the team’s strength, led by safety Obi Melifonwu, touted by Diaco as the best at his position in the nation.
File - In this Sept. 12, 2015, file photo, Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu (20) follows the play during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Army, in East Hartford, Conn. UConn, one of several programs being mentioned as a candidate for expansion by the Big 12, is dealing with something new in head coach Bob Diaco’s third season as its head football coach _ expectations. The defense, which gave up just 19.5 points per game, is expected to be the team’s strength, led by safety Obi Melifonwu, touted by Diaco as the best at his position in the nation. Stew Milne AP

OBI MELIFONWU

Selected: Round 2, No. 56

College: Connecticut

Position: Safety

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 224 pounds

Comment: Melifonwu turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine with some incredible workout numbers, including a broad jump of 11 feet, 9 inches – the second-best ever by a pro prospect. He also had a vertical leap of 44 inches and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. Will all this athleticism shine through for the Raiders?

EDDIE VANDERDOES

Selected: Round 3, No. 88

College: UCLA

Position: Defensive line

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 325 pounds

Comment: Vanderdoes missed most of the 2015 season with a torn ACL and displayed uneven play last season, but he had an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl. The Raiders want to see the explosive interior push the Placer High product generated as a freshman All-American. Oakland ranked last in the NFL in sacks last season and Vanderdoes could help there.

This story was originally published April 28, 2017 at 6:19 PM.

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