RAIDER DRAFT PROSPECTS : Slim Pickings Make Predictions Impossible

Now is the spring of the Raiders’ discontent.

Almost everyone else sits down at today’s draft to partake of the delicacies, but the Raiders won’t dine until late in the morning. They have the 11th pick in the second round, 39th overall.

Their No. 1, the 11th overall, went to the Chicago Bears in the Willie Gault deal. Gault caught 16 passes, and now, a year later, in this draft that has the offensive tackle and cornerback prospects of the decade, Al Davis, the most avid of collectors at both positions, finds himself unable to deal.

When the Gault trade was made, the house explanation was, sure, there was an imbalance at receiver, but they could always trade one of their surplus stars for a No. 1. Unfortunately for them, it turned out they had one and one only. Gault is hardly movable after last season. The highly-paid James Lofton was just left unprotected and wasn’t claimed. Mervyn Fernandez had a great season, but reserves don’t go for No. 1s.

The Raider with the cachet is last year’s No. 1A pick, Tim Brown, who could net the Raiders a high choice. Indeed, there was speculation for weeks that Davis would deal him in a bid for Deion Sanders, but Raider sources say it isn’t going to happen and never was considered, period.

“Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” said one.

So, instead of pulling their annual draft-day surprise in the first round, when they customarily take someone everyone else has passed over (Marcus Allen and Brown), or reach for some prospect only they can see and die with him (Bob Buczkowski), the Raiders are expected to go to work in the second round, by which time things should be at a fever pitch in El Segundo. Davis has a history of canny second-round choices--Howie Long, Sean Jones, Bill Pickel--and could use another coup today.

What to look for?

Predicting Raider picks when they have a first-round selection is next to impossible, and this far down, forget it.

But just to get a flavor for the thing, they’re thought to be looking for cornerbacks and offensive tackles, so maybe . . .

CORNERBACK--Robert Massey, North Carolina Central? He’s said to be fast, athletic and tenacious, but with poor technique. A project but a prospect.

TACKLE--Ralph Norwood, Louisiana State? He’s supposed to go low in the first round, but if he slips . . .

STRONG SAFETY--Not a Raider need, but they like guys who can crunch from that position, so why not Carnell Lake, the extra-fast, extra-small UCLA linebacker who suggested in all-star games that he could make the switch? Remember Lester Hayes, the college linebacker?

NOSE TACKLE--Tracy Rocker, Auburn? The Outland Trophy winner and once top-rated tackle has no business being on the board when the Raiders draft, but he had bad knees and a poor senior season, and teams are said to be getting down on him. His 40-yard dash times at the combine workout were slow, but he is said to have quickness off the ball, an attribute the Raiders prize.

INSIDE LINEBACKER--John Roper, Texas A&M;? He’s described as a good athlete who brags too much. Raiders wouldn’t mind the latter if the former is true.

Not only will this be a late day for the Raiders, it’ll be a short one. They owe either their No. 3 pick, or Nos. 4 and 5--it’s Davis’ call--to the Redskins for Jay Schroeder. They got an extra No. 5 from the Falcons for Jessie Hester but owe their No. 7 to New England for Brian Holloway and their No. 12 to San Francisco for Milt McColl.

Bon appetit .