Darren McFadden was one of the fastest players in the 2008 draft — 4.33 seconds on an electronic clock in his 40-yard dash at the NFL’s scouting combine.

Darius Heyward-Bey was one of the fastest players in the 2009 draft — 4.30 on an electronic clock.

Jacoby Ford was one of the fastest players in the 2010 draft — a staggering 4.28 on an electronic clock.

And, yes, Taiwan Jones was one of the fastest players in the 2011 draft — Jones couldn’t run at the combine because of injuries but snapped off a 4.28 (hand-timed) in a crowded pre-draft workout.

That’s a theme, and while the Raiders haven’t collected playoff victories recently, owner Al Davis is intent on collecting as much speed as possible. He has all four of the above guys, and plenty more, on the team’s roster.

A few NFL personnel people who have seen the Raiders play in the preseason or broken down the video from the preseason, say the team the Raiders bring to Monday night’s season opener here might be the fastest Raiders team they can remember.

Speed is always coveted in the NFL, but it doesn’t ensure success if those fast guys can’t produce as football players.

It is something for the Broncos to consider as they try to transition to a much faster roster in the first year of the dig out from last season’s 4-12.

“You have to be smart, understand who you are and who they are,” coach John Fox said.

The Raiders believe they have collected guys with elite speed. Ford was a track All-American at Clemson who won 18 consecutive 60-meter and 100-meter races there. He won the NCAA title at 60 meters and once ran a 10.01 electronically timed 100 meters.

In just his second season, he may already be one of the more dangerous receivers on an end-around and always has potential impact as a returner.

Raiders players have said how much impact they believe Jones can have as a rookie, especially as a receiver out of the backfield. Jones, a former college cornerback, had five plays of at least 80 yards in his career at Eastern Washington, 10 of at least 70 yards.

Had it not been for a broken foot at the end of the 2010 season, he may have been one of the real combine stars, but he couldn’t work out in Indy last February.

Many opposing personnel executives believe Denver lacked team speed last year. The Broncos have tried to fix it, and Monday night will be the first test to see just how much success they’ve had.

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com