Draft picks need to learn quickly

The Raiders had been so close to making the Super Bowl for years and then were blown out when they finally made it. They desperately want to go back and change the outcome, but the front office had to do some juking and fancy footwork to set the team up for another run.

A collection of players taken with high draft picks needs to fill several holes. Both defensive end positions are open competitions after the Raiders lost Regan Upshaw in free agency and then released Tony Bryant because of a spinal cord injury. Apart from Trace Armstrong, the team has five players with three or fewer years of experience competing for those spots, though this year's third-round pick, Sam Williams, figures to watch and learn his rookie year.

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