NFL Draft Grades - Las Vegas Raiders
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Las Vegas Raiders Upcoming 2025 Draft Picks (9)
Walt's Mock Selections as of 4/23/2025 -View Current Mock Draft
Round: 1


The Raiders could go after Ashton Jeanty, but he's off the board. Plus, with Chip Kelly serving as offensive coordinator, it makes sense to draft one of the Ohio State running backs in the second round. Instead, the Raiders can finally solve their offensive line issues, which have been prevalent for quite some time. They need a bookend across from Kolton Miller. Armand Membou posted some incredible measureables at the combine. In fact, only Trent Williams and Tristan Wirfs were able to compile the same sort of attributes in the past that Membou did at the combine this year. *** OTHER 2025 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: *** 1. Will Johnson, CB - Will Johnson's knee might be an issue. If the Raiders have cleared him, he's the likely pick. 2. Ashton Jeanty, RB - According to a CBS report, many around the league believe the Raiders are in love with Jeanty.
Round: 2


The Raiders have no running game. Chip Kelly could go after one of his Ohio State running backs. Treveyon Henderson has been an impressive runner and receiver out of the backfield.
Round: 3


The Raiders need offensive line help to protect Geno Smith. Marcus Mbow has some quickness and athleticism, but needs to get stronger.
Round: 4


The Raiders had one of the weaker cornerback groups in the NFL last year, so they could double up on cornerbacks. Fentrell Cypress has been a solid contributor with lots of pass-breakups.
Round: 5


The Raiders will be drafting a quarterback at some point to develop behind Geno Smith. Will Howard has an above-average arm, plus accuracy, and solid mobility.
Round: 6


The Raiders need some offensive tackle depth. Charles Grant was a consistent blocker with quickness and athleticism, but level of competition is a question mark.
Round: 6


The Raiders will need to add multiple receivers after losing Davante Adams. Da'Quan Felton wasn't productive at school, but showed some nice ability at times.
Round: 6


There's some speculation that the Raiders could trade Michael Mayer. Moliki Matavo is a big Y tight end.
Round: 7


The Raiders could stand to add to their linebacker depth and special-teams unit in the seventh round.
Past Grades and Selections
2024 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A So much for Michael Mayer. I don't really care that the Raiders drafted Mayer last year because A) Mayer sucked as a rookie, and B) this is a new front office. Brock Bowers makes the most sense as the best player available. I love this pick, as Bowers will be a great threat for whomever the Raiders find to play quarterback.
A+ What a steal by the Raiders. Jackson Powers-Johnson easily could have gone at the end of the first round, so they did a great job of getting him with this pick. The offensive line has been a weak spot for the Raiders for a long time, but Powers-Johnson will be able to help improve that dreadful situation.
D On one hand, I like that the Raiders are adding to their weak offensive line. On the other hand ... why Delmar Glaze? The Maryland product was considered a day-three prospect, so this is too early for him. Glaze is considered a backup swing tackle for the pros.
B Decamerion Richardson is a very raw prospect, but he possesses great upside and athleticism. I like taking a risk like this here to fill a major need at cornerback.
B+ Tommy Eichenberg is a two-down linebacker who will help the Raiders improve against the run. The Raiders already had the great pass rush, but they needed to improve versus the rush. Eichenberg, who could have gone a bit earlier than this, will bolster that area.
A This is a steal for the Raiders, as Dylan Laube could have been chosen late in the third round without any complaints. The Raiders needed to find another running back, and they're doing that with a great receiver out of the backfield.
B A safety and a special-teamer makes sense for the Raiders here in the seventh round. Taylor was projected around this area, so this pick earns a solid "B" grade.
A+ Marlon Devonshire could have been chosen as early as the fourth round, so here's a steal for the Raiders at a position of need. Devonshire projects as a slot cornerback in the NFL.
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.