With the No. 179 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders have selected linebacker Max Valles of Virginia. Valles was a third-team All-ACC player in 2014 leading the Cavaliers with nine sacks. He took advantage of entering the season as a full-time starter after only managing to start four games the previous year.
NFL Draft picks 2015: Max Valles taken by Raiders
The Oakland Raiders took Max Valles in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
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Valles had a decent performance at his pro day, running a 4.83-second 40-yard dash, 7.59-second 3-cone drill and a 4.37-second 20-yard shuttle. He has great size and strength for the position and seems suited for multiple positions in the NFL. He found success with his hand on the ground, and also was able to drop back into coverage standing up.
One of the biggest issues: he’s still raw. Valles has shown flashes of being a top-tier pass rusher at times, but he loses himself in extended plays and doesn’t have a particularly good nose for the ball carrier. Some have suggested that he’s more an athlete than a football player at that stage, which is always one of the biggest barriers for entry into the NFL from college.
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