2000 NFL draft day coverage

Oakland gets a kick in first round

Janikowski selection fills a need, but Raiders lose sight of big picture

By Jeff Agrest, Associate editor
April 15, 2000

This is a typical Raiders move. Lots of hype, lots of pomp and circumstance — lots of garbage.

Try as they might, the Raiders cannot justify spending a first-round pick on a placekicker. Was it a need? Sure it was. But was it a need that needed to be filled in Round One? I don’t think so.

Only three wide receivers were taken at the time of Oakland’s pick, and the team desperately needs another pass catcher. The likes of a Sylvester Morris or a Dez White would have filled that bill. The Raiders also need help on defense, and players at defensive end, outside linebacker and safety — all areas of need — were available.

But the Raiders saw a more pressing need on special teams. They looked at their stat sheet and saw that four field goals were missed between 30 and 39 yards. They took into account the parity that has spread across the NFL and figured that a good placekicker, something that has eluded Oakland for at least the last two seasons, might be the difference between another 8-8 season and a playoff berth.

In my mind, the Raiders failed to look at the big picture. First, they could have dealt down and still acquired the former Seminoles kicker. In the process, Oakland would have gained another pick or two to fill those aforementioned needs. That would have been shrewd — and logical.

Second, a kicker just isn’t on the field enough to merit a first-round selection. In this day and age, No. 1 picks need to have early — if not immediate — impacts. While Janikowski could very well become an impact player, I can’t see him kicking as many key field goals as a defensive end would notch key sacks or a safety would make key interceptions.

It’s been proved that teams do not need to draft kickers — either punters or placekickers — early, if at all. Ryan Longwell, the fine kicker for the Packers, was taken on the second day of the draft. Todd Sauerbrun, the since-departed punter from Chicago, was selected in Round Two. He signed with the Chiefs in free agency.

But the Raiders have never been a team to adhere to conventional wisdom. It’s just not in their nature — which is exactly why we should have seen this coming and taken cover.

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