The Raiders’ hopes of a playoff berth were dead and buried by Halloween last season, but it has been a promising offseason so far in Las Vegas.
Antonio Pierce was handed the head coach job after a 5-4 finish to the season as interim boss, while the free agent signing of Christian Wilkins was an eye-catching move.
A decent draft could further raise hopes of a playoff appearance in the desert, so what should we expect from the Raiders’ draft this week?
Las Vegas Raiders draft picks
- No. 13 overall (first round)
- No. 44 overall (second round)
- No. 77 overall (third round)
- No. 112 overall (fourth round)
- No. 148 overall (fifth round)
- No. 208 overall (sixth round) (from Kansas City)
- No. 223 overall (seventh round) (from New England)
- No. 229 overall (seventh round) (from Minnesota)
Key Needs
While Aidan O’Connell put in some steady performances as a rookie and Gardiner Minshew was signed via free agency, a new quarterback will be high on the Raiders’ draft board this year, as their two incumbents should be seen as high-level back-ups, rather than franchise QBs.
An offensive tackle to offset Jermaine Elumunor’s exit should be looked at, while the team also have a lack of quality at the guard position. A new running back could also be an option in the later rounds.
On defense, help is needed at the cornerback position.
Predictions
This all depends on how badly the Raiders want a quarterback. Should they have fallen in love with one of the top-end QBs in this year’s draft then they could throw the kitchen sink at the Patriots for their number three pick. Perhaps more realistic is a move for Michael Penix Jr in the second round, or Spencer Rattler later on day two.
If they stick with their 13th overall pick, then cornerback Terrion Arnold is a sensible selection. That then lets them see how the quarterback market pans out and if it doesn’t go their way, they can look at tackles Kingsley Suamatiai or Jordan Morgan in the second.
Day three picks should focus on both the offensive and defensive lines and a running back.
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