in the 1968 nfl/afl draft the oakland raiders made dickey the first african-american quarterback to be drafted in the first round in professional football. the raiders also selected university of alabama quarterback ken stabler in the second round. despite reports that dickey outperformed stabler at training camp, dickey was moved to wide receiver for the start of the season. it is unknown if this decision was influenced by the predominant stereotype at the time that blacks weren't intelligent enough to be capable leaders or if it was solely based on dickey's athletic ability. this came as a blow to a player who at one time told his former coach, joe gilliam sr., that if he couldn't play quarterback he didn't want to play. but, dickey accepted the position hoping for an opportunity to play his preferred position.