But then there are the Raiders who simply write down a list of 40-yard dash times and draft from there. The Darrius Heyward-Bey pick was embarrassing because Oakland could have likely traded down several spots if they were convinced they wanted the speedy, if inconsistent, receiver. But when the Raiders took Ohio safety Michael Mitchell in the second round, they made themselves joke to the rest of the league.When NFL.com expert Mike Mayock heard the pick, he couldn't believe it.
"The Ohio University safety?" with a tone of incredulous disbelief. "I had never heard of Mike Mitchell before three weeks ago when he ran a good time at his pro day."
Because of that good workout (Mitchell ran a 4.43 40-yard dash), Mayock bumped him up to a seventh-round draft grade. NFL.com doesn't have any analysis or overview on him, because they didn't expect him to be drafted. ESPN.com's Scouts Inc ranked 80 safeties ($) coming into the draft, Mitchell wasn't one of them. They've slotted him at No. 81 now. Mel Kiper Jr. said that he had Mitchell ranked somewhere between his 40th and 70th safety.