Last week, the Oakland Raiders made former Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley the No. 24 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Conley was widely considered one of the top defensive backs in the class (some had him ranked ahead of Ohio State teammate Marshon Lattimore, the first corner off the board), but sexual assault allegations in the week before the draft were expected to knock him down most teams' boards, perhaps as far as the third round.
Conley has maintained his innocence in the case (his attorney called the allegations "ludicrous and ridiculous"), and the Baltimore Ravens reportedly administered a polygraph test to Conley before the draft, which he reportedly passed. Conley's attorney stated that he had a "consensual sexual event" with the accuser
The Raiders felt comfortable enough with their research (of which they did "miles and miles" worth, apparently) on Conley and the case to take him at the back end of the first round. General manager Reggie McKenzie went on Sirius XM NFL Radio and forcefully stated that that was the case.
"We researched everything thoroughly and were totally convinced," McKenzie said. "We felt good about what was presented before us. We were very comfortable with the pick."
The Raiders took a risk making the selection before results of a rape kit came back and before Conley talked to investigators about the case, but they obviously felt they had a good handle on the situation. It remains to be seen if their faith in the Conley and the research they did on him will be rewarded.
