The first day of Draftmas is here and both the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders are back on the clock after making their first pics.
With their first pick the Raiders chose linebacker Rolando McClain from Alabama.
The Raiders came into the draft looking to improve their offensive line and run defense. With two offensive tackles already off the board, Oakland went for the best inside linebacker with its first pick.
McClain played a key role in helping Alabama win the national championship last season. The Raiders hope he can have as big an impact in Oakland. The Raiders finished 29th in run defense last season, allowing 155.5 yards per game.
As for the 49ers, they made sure they got their man: Anthony Davis.
The Niners selected the Rutgers offensive tackle with the 11th pick in Thursday's NFL draft, pulling off a trade with the Denver Broncos to move up two spots to make sure they secured one of the draft's top lineman prospects.
San Francisco also traded its fourth-round pick, No. 113 overall, to the Broncos -- an aggressive move by new personnel chief Trent Baalke. He took the reins for the draft after the abrupt departure of general manager Scot McCloughan last month.
Davis, the 6-foot-5, 323-pounder, fills perhaps the team's biggest offseason need as a speedy run-blocker. The Niners' inconsistent offensive line has allowed an NFL-worst 150 sacks over the past three seasons.
The first pick of the night had the St. Louis Rams choosing Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.
The Rams made the choice Thursday night, hoping Bradford can help revive a franchise that has slid a long way from its days as "The Greatest Show on Turf." St. Louis was 1-15 a year ago and has a sorry 6-42 record the past three years.
The pick opened round one where the Raiders pick 8th and the 49ers pick 13 and 17th. The 49ers not only made their draft room available to ESPN's cameras, they are also streaming the action on the web.
