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It depends on how you look at it. I don't think anyone will disagree with me when I say that Oakland's number one priority at this point is quarterback, as keeping Andrew Walters at that position will most likely result in disaster.
Really, Oakland's defense was not that bad last year, and the youth that they have at most positions with Thomas Howard, Fabien Washington, Michael Huff, and so on and so forth, should help them to progress even next year. On the offensive side, they were probably the most disorganized and abysmal team put out on the field since I can remember. While everything on that side had failed, it was mainly the fault of that offensive line combined with a lack of stability at quarterback that led to what Oakland was last year.
Offensive line is a position that you can build up relatively easily in the latter parts of the draft, so having your first pick be put on Joe Thomas would seem to me to be a waste. The question then becomes if you want to draft a quarterback to develop, or sign a veteran like New Orleans did last year. Of all the quarterbacks in the draft, JaMarcus Russell seems to have the best upside, but only if his environment permits him to be. David Carr would bring experience and potentially a quick fix to Oakland's problems, but don't forget that Oakland has been bringing in free agent quarterbacks for the last five or so years with little to no success. In my opinion, Carr going to a team like Oakland would be no better a situation than if he were to stay in Houston. David Carr would be more efficient on a team like Carolina, a team that is already good and does not put all the stress on him to win a game.
If I were Oakland, I would just go ahead and draft Russell and end that stigma of signing one free agent quarterback after another, which in the end will delay their chances of truly being any good. Russell probably would not be effective right at day one, but in two or three years he is Oakland's best shot at having a quarterback the calibre of Daunte Culpepper or Donovan McNabb at this point.
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