NFL Draft Grades - Las Vegas Raiders
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Las Vegas Raiders Upcoming 2023 Draft Picks (12)
Grade: B
There was some concern with Tyree Wilson's health, but the Raiders are obviously OK with it. Defensive end was not a big need at the moment because the Raiders have Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones on the roster, but you can never have too many talented pass rushers. I think this is a solid pick, but the injury and age problems with Wilson may make the Raiders regret this selection in the future.
Grade: B+
I slotted Matthew Bergeron at the end of my final mock draft. He's a versatile player who can play tackle and guard, and he was terrific at the combine. The Falcons really needed offensive line help, as they went to the Super Bowl in 2016 because they had an elite blocking unit. The offensive line had been hurting ever since.
Grade: B
The Raiders really needed a defensive tackle because Jerry Tillery is currently slated to start there. Byron Young is an undersized player, which is why he wasn't going higher than this, but he's a talented player who should have a role in the Raider defense. This is a solid, but not great pick.
Grade: C-
Tre Tucker is an undersized slot receiver. I'm not sure where he fits into the Raiders' offense with Hunter Renfrow holding the position. This range isn't terrible for Tucker, but I don't like the fit for a pick this early.
Grade: B
Dylan Horton had a great season last year as a dynamic pass rusher for TCU. The Texans needed someone to get after the quarterback, and Horton fits the range. This is a fine pick for a team that needed to revamp its defense.
Grade: C
I don't think the Vikings needed to trade up for Jaquelin Roy. They at least had to find a replacement for Dalvin Tomlinson, and Roy has potential as an athletic player. However, he's a raw player who needs to get stronger.
Grade: B
This is a player who could have gone where the Patriots selected some of their other reaches. Another blocker makes sense, and Atonio Mafi is a powerful blocker who can blast open big running lanes for Rhamondre Stevenson.
Grade: C
Warren McClendon is a limited athlete, so he may have to move to guard. However, he's a versatile player and could fight for a starting spot in the interior of the Rams' dreadful offensive line.
Grade: A+
I want to find out why Jarrick Bernard-Converse fell so hard in the 2023 NFL Draft because I thought he easily could have gone in the third round. Bernard-Converse has good size, quickness and athleicism. The Jets didn't need a cornerback, but they're getting a talented prospect.
Grade: C
Ameer Speed is a huge, 6-3 cornerback, but he has some severe speed concerns. He's also very prone to being penalized. There's a lot of work to do with him, but maybe Bill Belichick can turn him into a good player.
Grade: B+
Zack Kuntz was one of the most athletic tight ends at the combine. I thought he'd go a bit earlier as a result, but the Jets are getting a good value and a potential weapon for Aaron Rodgers.
Grade: B+
Nesta Jade Silvera is solid in run support, but needs to improve his pass-rushing ability. Having him around to help versus the rush will help in some matchups. He might be able to make the final roster.
Walt's Mock Selections as of 6/6/2023 -View Current Mock Draft
Round: 1
Las Vegas Raiders: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
The Raiders like Anthony Richardson, but it sounds like the plan is to move forward with Jimmy Garoppolo. In that case, the Raiders will be interested in protecting their new quarterback. They have a big hole at right tackle that they can address with this pick.
Paris Johnson has been linked to the Bears as a possibility to enhance Justin Fields' protection. Given how often Fields was under siege last year, Chicago must consider Johnson if the top defensive linemen are off the board. Johnson has good athleticism for an offensive lineman, and he can play both tackle and guard.
*** OTHER 2023 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Devon Witherspoon/Christian Gonzalez, CB - Cornerback is a huge need, and there are two cornerbacks worthy of being top-10 picks.
2. Darnell Wright, OT - The other tackle selection would help solidify Jimmy Garoppolo's pass protection.
Round: 2
Las Vegas Raiders: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Josh McDaniels told the media that he wants to find a quarterback of the future, so here he is. The Raiders reportedly have Hendon Hooker as their third-rated quarterback.
Hooker is a dual-threat quarterback enjoyed a great season for Tennessee. The top downside prior to his torn ACL was that he'll turn 25 prior to the draft. The ACL is a concern for the short term, but not for the team drafting him in this situation.
Round: 3
Las Vegas Raiders: Mekhi Garner, CB, LSU
The Raiders have a pathetic defense, so they must find help at every level. In fact, they could draft two cornerbacks.
Mekhi Garner is a tall cornerback with good instincts.
Round: 3
Las Vegas Raiders: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
The Raiders' starting tight end right now is Austin Hooper, so something must be done about this.
Tucker Kraft is raw, but possesses quality upside.
Round: 4
Las Vegas Raiders: Mike Morris, DE, Michigan
The Raiders need all the pass-rushing depth they can get to make sure they constantly hound Patrick Mahomes.
Mike Morris made big improvements as a pass-rusher during his final year.
Round: 5
Las Vegas Raiders: Nick Hampton, LB, Appalachian State
The Raiders have a weak linebacking corps that'll have to be fixed at some point.
Nick Hampton is a very versatile linebacker.
Round: 5
Las Vegas Raiders: Jay Ward, S, LSU
The Raiders will be looking for more depth in their troublesome secondary.
Jay Ward made a good move from cornerback to safety.
Round: 5
Las Vegas Raiders: Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
The Raiders are top heavy at receiver, but they don't have the best depth at the position.
Parker Washington projects as a stud slot receiver in the NFL.
Round: 6
Las Vegas Raiders: D.J. Johnson, OLB, Oregon
The Raiders have a strong edge rush, but they could stand to improve their depth in that area.
D.J. Johnson showed off his freakish athletic ability at the combine.
Round: 6
Las Vegas Raiders: Tre Hawkins, CB, Old Dominion
No one should be shocked if the Raiders use multiple selections on cornerbacks.
Round: 7
Las Vegas Raiders: Trevor Reid, OT, Louisville
The Raiders have tons of picks, so I'm sure one of their late-round choices will be used on blocking depth.
Round: 7
Las Vegas Raiders: Jalen Wayne, WR, South Alabama
The Raiders aren't very deep at receiver, so a late-round pick could be used on the position.
Past Grades and Selections
2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
B There was some concern with Tyree Wilson's health, but the Raiders are obviously OK with it. Defensive end was not a big need at the moment because the Raiders have Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones on the roster, but you can never have too many talented pass rushers. I think this is a solid pick, but the injury and age problems with Wilson may make the Raiders regret this selection in the future.
B+ I slotted Matthew Bergeron at the end of my final mock draft. He's a versatile player who can play tackle and guard, and he was terrific at the combine. The Falcons really needed offensive line help, as they went to the Super Bowl in 2016 because they had an elite blocking unit. The offensive line had been hurting ever since.
B The Raiders really needed a defensive tackle because Jerry Tillery is currently slated to start there. Byron Young is an undersized player, which is why he wasn't going higher than this, but he's a talented player who should have a role in the Raider defense. This is a solid, but not great pick.
C- Tre Tucker is an undersized slot receiver. I'm not sure where he fits into the Raiders' offense with Hunter Renfrow holding the position. This range isn't terrible for Tucker, but I don't like the fit for a pick this early.
B Dylan Horton had a great season last year as a dynamic pass rusher for TCU. The Texans needed someone to get after the quarterback, and Horton fits the range. This is a fine pick for a team that needed to revamp its defense.
C I don't think the Vikings needed to trade up for Jaquelin Roy. They at least had to find a replacement for Dalvin Tomlinson, and Roy has potential as an athletic player. However, he's a raw player who needs to get stronger.
B This is a player who could have gone where the Patriots selected some of their other reaches. Another blocker makes sense, and Atonio Mafi is a powerful blocker who can blast open big running lanes for Rhamondre Stevenson.
C Warren McClendon is a limited athlete, so he may have to move to guard. However, he's a versatile player and could fight for a starting spot in the interior of the Rams' dreadful offensive line.
A+ I want to find out why Jarrick Bernard-Converse fell so hard in the 2023 NFL Draft because I thought he easily could have gone in the third round. Bernard-Converse has good size, quickness and athleicism. The Jets didn't need a cornerback, but they're getting a talented prospect.
C Ameer Speed is a huge, 6-3 cornerback, but he has some severe speed concerns. He's also very prone to being penalized. There's a lot of work to do with him, but maybe Bill Belichick can turn him into a good player.
B+ Zack Kuntz was one of the most athletic tight ends at the combine. I thought he'd go a bit earlier as a result, but the Jets are getting a good value and a potential weapon for Aaron Rodgers.
B+ Nesta Jade Silvera is solid in run support, but needs to improve his pass-rushing ability. Having him around to help versus the rush will help in some matchups. He might be able to make the final roster.
2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A Grade
I love what the Raiders just did. They didn't pick until No. 86, but they moved down four spots and picked a player who easily could've gone in the second round. Not only that, but Dylan Parham fills a huge need. Parham can play guard and center, and the Raiders will need his versatility on their horrid blocking unit.
B+ Grade
Zamir White is the next of impressive backs to come out of Georgia, along with James Cook. He's a solid pick here in the fourth round, as the Raiders need to figure out what to do with Josh Jacobs, who has been very inconsistent for them.
B- Grade
Neil Farrell is a big nose tackle who can help the Patriots stop the run. The problem is that the rest of the AFC West is all about passing, so I'm not sure about this fit. Farrell makes sense in this range as a fourth-round prospect though.
B- Grade
I don't know why the Rams traded up for a running back, but at least there's some value with this pick. Kyren Williams struggled at the combine, but he figures to be a solid receiver out of the backfield in the NFL.
B+ Grade
I mocked this exact pick to the Packers in the seventh round. This fit makes sense, as the Packers needed to address their secondary depth. Green Bay showed interest in Carpenter, so they got their man.
2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
B+ Grade
This is such a perfect fit. Alex Leatherwood is the sort of tough offensive lineman Jon Gruden loves. The Raiders were desperate for an offensive lineman after losing not one, not two, but three blockers in free agency. It makes sense for Leatherwood to be the fourth offensive lineman off the board, so I like this pick for the Raiders.
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B- Grade
I've said this multiple times, but I'm always a fan of teams adding to the offensive line to protect a young quarterback. Trey Lance is raw, so he'll need all the protection he can get once he takes over for Jimmy Garoppolo. I had Banks slated as a third-round prospect, but I don't hate this value in the middle of the second frame.
F Grade
I defended the Alex Leatherwood pick, but I can't do the same thing for this one. I've had Malcolm Koonce slated late on Day 3. He seems like a nice situational pass rusher who will be exposed in run support if he has to play on those downs. He doesn't even fill a need, so I don't see why he's a third-round pick.
D Grade
I'm not a big fan of this pick either, but it's better than the other one. Divine Deablo is a talented player, but he's a linebacker-safety hybrid, so it's unclear where he'll fit in the Raiders' defense. Linebacker is a huge need, so why not select someone like Jabril Cox?
F Grade
The Jaguars traded up for a player they could have obtained with their natural pick. Seems par for the course when accounting for Urban Meyer's inexperience with the NFL Draft. I'm all for Jacksonville obtaining another edge rusher, but teams weren't dying to draft Jordan Smith. I didn't even have him drafted, though I considered him in the seventh round.
C- Grade
Andy Reid drafted a tight end. You don't say!? The Chiefs love running mult-tight end formations, so this pick makes sense. That said, I'm not sure why the Chiefs traded up for Noah Gray. Were there teams dying to pick Gray? I doubt it, so why did the Chiefs squander a resource for him?
B Grade
This is the 716th defensive back for the Jets on Day 3. Brandin Echols is an athletic player, and he's someone I thought would be chosen in the final couple of rounds.