Everyone watching the NFL draft was shocked when the Oakland Raiders selected Ohio safety Michael Mitchell in the second round, a pick that prompted Mel Kiper, Mike Mayock and their ilk to bash the Raiders for wasting a pick on a player who would have been available later in the draft. But now there's talk that Mitchell wasn't going to be available much longer at all.
David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Bears had already called Mitchell and told him they were planning to take him with their second-round pick. The Bears were picking 49th, and they ended up trading the pick when the Raiders selected Mitchell 47th.
So maybe Mitchell wasn't such a bad choice after all. As the video above shows, Mitchell is a hitter with good speed, and all the teams that worked him out seemed to come away very impressed. Will he turn into an NFL star? Who knows? But I don't think the Raiders made the big mistake that Kiper and Mayock suggest.
NFL Draft Photos
Cleveland Browns general manager George Kokinis, left, and head coach Eric Mangini answer questions regarding the NFL Draft, Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Berea, Ohio. The Browns made three trades in the first round before selecting California center Alex Mack at No. 21. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Cleveland Browns general manager George Kokinis answers questions about the NFL draft, Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Berea, Ohio. The Browns made three trades in the first round before selecting California center Alex Mack at No. 21. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets first round draft pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Mark Sanchez,the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini, right, listens as Browns general manager George Kokinis answers questions about the NFL Draft Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Berea, Ohio. The Browns made three trades in the first round before selecting California center Alex Mack at No. 21. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick discusses The Patriots 2009 NFL Draft choices during a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Saturday April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-26-2009 @ 11:15AM
mike said...
I think this was a bad pick with guys like Michael Johnson still on the board, but I'm sure mitchell will at least be a good special teams player.
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4-27-2009 @ 11:01AM
Janna's Daddy said...
It will turn out to be a great pick. All the so called experts on TV have to bash this pick because they didnt know about him- it made them look bad. The Raiders get scrutinized no matter who they pick.Hayward -Bey also.
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4-27-2009 @ 4:21PM
whoisdarr said...
If you listen to his interviews after being picked, he visited 13 teams, 8 in the last month. And basically everywhere he went they liked him, especially because he could play strong or free safety. Which is probably the reason he went way higher than predicted. As an OHIO alum people were recently placing him as a 4th or 5th round pick. But its possible his versatility made him more attractive than the better one position safeties.
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4-28-2009 @ 2:55PM
mitchell said...
I usually stick to the logic that something becomes bad whenever the Raiders do it. I wish the best for Hayward-Bey and Michael Mitchell but sometimes an organization can make players seem like busts because the team is poorly constructed. I love Raiders clothing but the team? not so much
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6-03-2009 @ 5:23PM
Dillon Miyares said...
I thinkk all you guys are hatters. Mike Mitchell and Darius Heyward-Bey are is a straight up bosses and will make an impact on the raiders defense and special teams. Considering we have one of the best secondaries in the leauge. With a outstanding line backing core i think we will make noice in tha afc west. I BLEED BLACK AND SILVER!
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