It's not insensitive to say that the Oakland Raiders have not been a good football team for a long time now; their last season above .500 was back in 2003. Since then, the organization has gone from storied franchise to NFL punch line thanks to constant instability and dysfunction in the front office, laughable free agent deals and poor draft picks.
That last one is the real killer. Everyone rightfully points to the JaMarcus Russell debacle as Oakland's biggest misstep in the draft, but cornerback D.J. Hayden is also on the path to becoming a "bust."
"This is not what the Raiders imagined when they drafted Hayden with the No. 12 overall pick in 2013," ESPN Raiders reporter Bill Williamson wrote. "He is entering his third NFL training camp as the No. 3 cornerback. He can still win a job. But he was drafted to dominate, not to compete for a job in his third year."
In the two years since Hayden was drafted, the Raiders have finished 28th and 16th in pass defense, respectively. It takes more than one player to make a defense, obviously, but other first-round corners have come in and had more of an immediate impact than Hayden.
The Cleveland Browns ranked 29th in the NFL in pass defense in 2009. A year later, after making CB Joe Haden the No. 7 overall pick, they jumped to 18th. This past year they ranked eighth. Elite corners elevate the play of those around them and Hayden has been unable to do that for the Raiders thus far.
That doesn't mean that the 25-year-old is doomed to a life of reserve duty. It's possible that new head coach Jack Del Rio is able to scheme to Hayden's strengths and help him reach his potential. Hayden has talent, no one is doubting that. But as of right now, the Raiders have to be disappointed with the production they (haven't) gotten from their former first-round cornerback.
