Raiders draft Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa

By Steve Corkran via MercuryNews.com -

ALAMEDA — The Raiders kept up their need for speed in the NFL draft by selecting former Deer Valley High School graduate Taiwan Jones and Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa in the fourth round on Saturday.

Jones, a 6-foot, 195-pound running back, starred at Eastern Washington. He ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at his pro day in early April and gives the Raiders another home-run threat out of the backfield.

Jones’ quickest path to the field figures to be on special teams, given the Raiders have two front-line backs in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. Jones is an accomplished kick returner.

It’s possible that the Raiders will use Jones on kick returns and second-year player Jacoby Ford on punt returns. Ford handled kick-return duties last season and recorded three touchdowns.

On Friday, the Raiders used a third-round pick on Miami’s DeMarcus Van Dyke, a cornerback who posted the fastest 40-yard-dash time at the NFL scouting combine in February. Chekwa was just the latest speedy cornerback taken by Oakland.

Chekwa, 6-foot-1 and 176 pounds, started for the Buckeyes his final three seasons. He fared well against some of the Big Ten’s best wide receivers and was named First Team All-Big Ten.

Chekwa, who was taken in the fourth round with the 114th overall pick…….
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