The Las Vegas Raiders raised eyebrows when they selected Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood with the 17th overall pick on Thursday night.

"We knew it would be controversial," Mike Mayock said. "We completely understand that."

Mayock said Jon Gruden, offensive line coach Tom Cable and the team's scouts were high on Leatherwood too.

"Coach Cable has been all over him for months now," Mayock said. "Gruden loved this guy. Our scouts loved this guy. And what I like is, when the second floor in our building, which is all the coaches, and the third floor, which is all the scouts, when we’re united on a conversation like Leatherwood, that makes me feel really good about the pick."