Jul 22, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks linebacker Ben Heeney speaks to the media during the Big 12 media days at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

After going offense for three of the first four picks at last month’s Draft, the Raiders looked like they were making building the offense around Derek Carr into the theme of this year’s draft class. But beginning in the fifth round, the Raiders made a run on linebackers, taking three linebackers with three consecutive selections before taking another offensive player. The first of those three was Kansas linebacker Ben Heeney.

After releasing veteran mike backer Nick Roach – who had missed the entire 2014 season with a concussion – many observers thought the Raiders would address the middle linebacker position in the draft with a player like Erick Kendricks or Denzel Perryman. Instead, the Raiders signed veteran Curtis Lofton to be the ostensible mike backer for the team, and passed on taking any linebacker until the top of round 5, with the 140th overall pick, where they selected Heeney. This is what they got with that pick: