Raiders select UCLA OT Kolton Miller with No. 15 overall pick

The Raiders chose not to address a list of defensive needs with their first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Instead, they added more protection for Derek Carr.

Oakland selected UCLA offensive tackle Kolton Miller with the No. 15 pick in Thursday’s first round, after trading down from No. 10 earlier in the evening.

With some highly regarded defensive prospects still on the board, the Raiders drafted a player who potentially solves two needs. Oakland released last year’s starting right tackle, Marshall Newhouse, earlier this offseason. Left tackle Donald Penn, meanwhile, is about to turn 35 and returning from foot surgery, and his contract expires after 2019.

The 6-foot-9, 309-pound Miller played both right and left tackle at UCLA, protecting the blind side of Josh Rosen in his final college season. In an odd twist, the Raiders drafted Miller with a pick they acquired from Arizona, which traded up to No. 10 to draft Rosen.

In moving back five spots in the first round, the Raiders also acquired the Cardinals’ third-round (No. 79 overall) and fifth-round (No. 152) picks. That brought Oakland’s total number of picks in this year’s draft to 13.

Miller, who is from Roseville, joins a Raiders offensive line group that had three Pro Bowl selections last year in Penn, center Rodney Hudson and guard Kelechi Osemele. The Raiders have an interest in protecting Carr, who signed a five-year, $125 million extension last June.

The Raiders were said to be interested in Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey. After the 49ers drafted McGlinchey at No. 9, however, Oakland accepted a trade down.

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