The late Al Davis was certainly the most willing owner to draft a player with "character issues". Drafting the likes of Robert Gallery, Sebastian Janikowski, and JaMarcus Russell to name a few. Although he has passed on there is one player in this upcoming draft that he would have most likely been drooling over, and that is former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla. In the past year Lyerla has been kicked off the Oregon football team, arrested for possession of cocaine, and put on arguably the best performance of any tight end at the NFL combine.
Listed at 6'5 225 the size and athleticism he displayed at the combine was incredible. His official 40 time was 4.61 where he ranked 3rd, he tied for the longest broad jump at 128 inches, and stole the show with his leading vertical leap at 36.5 inches. Out of High school he was a 5 star recruit at linebacker and running back, and was rated the number 2 athlete in the country. Although his time at Oregon was short lived we have still seen enough to believe he will be able to produce at the next level. With owners and coaches coming into the draft with so many concerns about Lyerlas off the field activities it is likely that he will be a later round pick, with teams more willing to use a third or later round pick on him.
Even though the former owner is gone it is still possible to see Lyerla wearing the Silver and Black, as the Raiders need another Tight End to play alongside Mychal Rivera. Likely to use there first picks filling needs at WR, QB, LB, or DE it would not be a surprise if the organization took a chance on Lyerla in the later rounds, seeing as how in the later rounds the rewards appear to outweigh the risks. He certainly has a chance to be the steal of the draft, and if put in the right situation could thrive in the NFL right away.