Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
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Oakland Raiders safety Obi Melifonwu (20) against the New York Giants during an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oakland Raiders safety Obi Melifonwu (20) against the New York Giants during an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
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FILE -- Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. in this Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 file photo. Melifonwu played on special teams in last Sunday’s game in Kansas City and first appeared on the Raiders’ injury report Wednesday. Del Rio said the rookie had surgery Thursday. less
FILE -- Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. in this Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 file ... more
Photo: Charlie Riedel, Associated Press
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The Raiders have also been without starting cornerback David Amerson since Week 7 because of a lingering foot injury. Amerson was a limited participant in practice Wednesday but did not participate the last two days and acknowledged frustration Friday with his progress. less
The Raiders have also been without starting cornerback David Amerson since Week 7 because of a lingering foot injury. Amerson was a limited participant in practice Wednesday but did not participate the last two ... more
Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle
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Oakland Raiders draft picks: where are they now?

2005: Fabian Washington

The first round cornerback tanked with the Raiders, lasting only a few years. When he was traded to the Ravens in 2008, he was blunt about his Raiders career.
If I was playing well, I would still be there right now," he said. "I was playing terrible. At the time, I would have traded myself if I was playing that bad."
Washington left the league in 2011 and now co-hosts a Florida radio show called Florida Boy Sports. He's also extremely active on Twitter, live-tweeting Raiders games.
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Oakland Raiders draft picks: where are they now?

2005: Fabian Washington

The first round cornerback tanked with the Raiders, lasting only a few years. When he was traded to the Ravens in 2008, he was blunt about
... more
Photo: Liz Mangelsdorf
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2006: Michael Huff

The Texas safety and track star switched to cornerback to fill the Raiders' need, but it wasn't enough to keep him on the squad. The seventh-overall pick was cut when general manager Reggie McKenzie took over in 2013. League sources indicated Huff didn't want to take a pay cut.
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2006: Michael Huff

The Texas safety and track star switched to cornerback to fill the Raiders' need, but it wasn't enough to keep him on the squad. The seventh-overall pick was cut when general manager Reggie
... more
Photo: Darryl Bush
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Huff is currently the assistant to the assistant defensive backs coach at Texas, his alma mater. He also lists himself as a stay at home dad on his Twitter account.
Huff is currently the assistant to the assistant defensive backs coach at Texas, his alma mater. He also lists himself as a stay at home dad on his Twitter account.
Photo: Screenshot
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2007: JaMarcus Russell

Of course, the list had to include one of the NFL's most infamous draft busts, JaMarcus Russell. The No. 1 overall pick from LSU struggled from day one, admitting later that he tested positive for codeine shortly after being drafted. 
On the field, Russell threw 23 picks to 18 touchdowns and lost 15 fumbles in three seasons.
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2007: JaMarcus Russell

Of course, the list had to include one of the NFL's most infamous draft busts, JaMarcus Russell. The No. 1 overall pick from LSU struggled from day one, admitting later that he tested
... more
Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images
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Then, there was the drug trouble. In 2010, several months after being released by the Raiders, Russell was arrested at his home in Alabama for possession of codeine without a prescription. He attempted to sign with another team, but his drug use and rumors of a poor work ethic made him an undesirable target. less
Then, there was the drug trouble. In 2010, several months after being released by the Raiders, Russell was arrested at his home in Alabama for possession of codeine without a prescription. He attempted to sign ... more
Photo: AP
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This year, JaMarcus made headlines again for attempting a second comeback. According to Sports Illustrated, he sent letters to several teams offering his services with a "no-risk money-back guarantee." He hasn't heard back from any of the teams. less
This year, JaMarcus made headlines again for attempting a second comeback. According to Sports Illustrated, he sent letters to several teams offering his services with a "no-risk money-back guarantee." He ... more
Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
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2008: Darren McFadden

Perpetually injury-ridden, Raiders fans felt saddled with their No. 4 overall pick. Eventually, even his relative star-power wasn't enough to save his Raiders career. He was benched in favor of Latavius Murray in 2014.
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2008: Darren McFadden

Perpetually injury-ridden, Raiders fans felt saddled with their No. 4 overall pick. Eventually, even his relative star-power wasn't enough to save his Raiders career. He was benched in
... more
Photo: Dean Coppola, AP
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In 2015, McFadden signed with the Cowboys (seen here in the all-too-familiar act of fumbling the ball). McFadden has been injured all season after breaking his elbow while reaching for his falling cell phone.
In 2015, McFadden signed with the Cowboys (seen here in the all-too-familiar act of fumbling the ball). McFadden has been injured all season after breaking his elbow while reaching for his falling cell phone.
Photo: John McDonnell, Washington Post
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2009: Darrius Heyward-Bey

The next year, the Raiders used their No. 7 pick to draft a little-known wide receiver from Maryland who experts rated as the fourth or fifth-best receiver in the draft. But the Raiders liked his speed and thought he'd prove a good target for quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
Alas, it was not to be. Heyward-Bey never had more than 64 receptions in a season with the Raiders. Drafted three spots below him? Michael Crabtree.
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2009: Darrius Heyward-Bey

The next year, the Raiders used their No. 7 pick to draft a little-known wide receiver from Maryland who experts rated as the fourth or fifth-best receiver in the draft. But the Raiders
... more
Photo: Paul Sakuma, AP
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Heyward-Bey is now with the Steelers where he's played a bit role for the last three seasons, catching four touchdowns total.

As for Crabtree, the Raiders got it right in the end. He's with the Silver and Black now.
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Heyward-Bey is now with the Steelers where he's played a bit role for the last three seasons, catching four touchdowns total.
As for Crabtree, the Raiders got it right in the end. He's with the Silver and Black
... more
Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images
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2010: Rolando McClain

The only one who could rival JaMarcus for his epic flame-out, McClain was supposed to shore up the team's awful run defense. But problems off the field overshadowed anything he did on it. In 2011, McClain was arrested for assault and reckless endangerment. That arrest was followed by a window tint violation during which McClain gave the police a false name, a 2013 disorderly conduct arrest and a strange episode in which his house, which was empty and for sale at the time, was burned down by an arsonist. 
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2010: Rolando McClain

The only one who could rival JaMarcus for his epic flame-out, McClain was supposed to shore up the team's awful run defense. But problems off the field overshadowed anything he did on it.
... more
Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
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And yet somehow, someone still wanted to give McClain a job. Despite announcing his retirement in 2013, McClain came back the next year to shore up the Cowboys' defense.

The comeback was short-lived, however. He was suspended for some of 2015 for violating the league substance abuse policy, and incurred a second violation in 2016 resulting in a 10-game suspension. According to sources, McClain's drug test was positive for opiates and his addiction to purple drank has made a second NFL comeback unlikely.
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And yet somehow, someone still wanted to give McClain a job. Despite announcing his retirement in 2013, McClain came back the next year to shore up the Cowboys' defense.
The comeback was short-lived, however. He
... more
Photo: LM Otero, Associated Press
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2011: Stefen Wisniewski 

Wisniewski was partly a legacy pick for the Raiders; his uncle Steve was an eight-time Pro Bowler for the team. Unfortunately for Oakland, Stefan didn't match that feat. He left the team for the free agency in 2015. 
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2011: Stefen Wisniewski 

Wisniewski was partly a legacy pick for the Raiders; his uncle Steve was an eight-time Pro Bowler for the team. Unfortunately for Oakland, Stefan didn't match that feat. He left the
... more
Photo: Mark Selders, Penn State Athletics
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Wisniewski is now with the Eagles. He's played 10 games so far this season but only started two.
Wisniewski is now with the Eagles. He's played 10 games so far this season but only started two.
Photo: Rich Schultz, Getty Images
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2012: Tony Bergstrom 

In 2012, the Raiders' first pick was in the third round. They used it to draft offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom. Bergstrom never claimed a starting job, though, playing in 25 games for the Raiders, only four of them starts.
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2012: Tony Bergstrom 

In 2012, the Raiders' first pick was in the third round. They used it to draft offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom. Bergstrom never claimed a starting job, though, playing in 25 games for
... more
Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press
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This year, Bergstrom signed with the Texans. He's played in 10 games this season, all off the bench.
This year, Bergstrom signed with the Texans. He's played in 10 games this season, all off the bench.
Photo: Brett Coomer Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Safety Obi Melifonwu, a second-round pick this year, had surgery to address a hip injury and will finish the season on injured reserve, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said Friday.

Melifonwu played on special teams in Sunday’s game at Kansas City and first appeared on the Raiders’ injury report Wednesday. Del Rio said the rookie had surgery Thursday.

“I can’t tell you exactly when that occurred,” Del Rio said of the injury. “I think it’s been a little bit that he’s been working with it. So, required surgery. He’s had it. So he’ll be out.”

Melifonwu also spent the first eight games of the season on IR with a knee injury suffered in the preseason. He made his debut in Week 9 at Miami and his first start two weeks later — at cornerback against the Patriots in Mexico City.

After playing 26 snaps on defense in that game, Melifonwu played one defensive snap over his final three games. All six of his snaps last weekend against the Chiefs came on special teams.

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The Raiders’ use of Melifonwu at cornerback — which Del Rio later conceded was a desperate move — stemmed from a series of injuries at the position. Oakland’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, cornerback Gareon Conley, played in just two games before suffering a shin injury that eventually ended his season. The Raiders placed Conley on IR on Nov. 13.

Both rookies were expected to be big contributors this season. Conley, the 24th overall pick in April, was seen as a talented cover corner and potential starter who came into camp “hitting the ground running,” general manager Reggie McKenzie said last month. But Conley missed parts of training camp and preseason with the shin injury and had a setback after Week 3.

The Raiders drafted Melifonwu out of Connecticut as a tall, athletic safety who could match up one-on-one with tight ends in pass coverage. Del Rio recently said the Raiders had “a big role” planned for Melifonwu until he got hurt before the season.

In total, the Raiders’ top two picks combined to play 126 defensive snaps in their rookie seasons.

The Raiders have also been without starting cornerback David Amerson since Week 7 because of a lingering foot injury. Amerson was a limited participant in practice Wednesday but did not participate the past two days and acknowledged frustration Friday with his progress.

“I feel like there was a lot of plays out there to be made,” Amerson said. “And I ain’t no good on the sideline, you know what I mean?”

Amerson, who is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against Dallas, would miss his seventh consecutive game.

“He’s a good player, but we don’t dwell on that,” Del Rio said. “We go to the next guy up.”

TJ Carrie, who began the season as the Raiders’ third cornerback, has played the second-most defensive snaps (823) on the team. Sean Smith, who was benched briefly after starting in Week 1, has returned to a starting role with Dexter McDonald entering in nickel packages.

The group will get reinforcements Sunday in cornerback Antonio Hamilton, who was activated from IR on Friday to take Melifonwu’s spot on the roster. Hamilton suffered a knee injury on a kickoff in Week 5 against Baltimore and was designated to return from IR on Nov. 28.

Hamilton said he felt ready to return earlier from a meniscus tear, which usually heals in three to six weeks. He appeared in five games before the injury with one tackle.

“I’m super excited about getting back and also nervous at the same time because it’s been quite a while,” Hamilton said. “But at the same time, I’m ready. The coaching staff, they trust me, they believe that I’m ready. So I have no other choice but to get out there and do the best I can.”

Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara