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Raiders’ NFL Draft Primer: Picks, Needs And Player Fits

Originally posted on Raiders Newswire | By Jeff Spiegel | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 6:40 PM ET

There’s a new regime in town, but the NFL Draft has a familiar feel for the Las Vegas Raiders: it’s a weekend of hope, yes, but also immense pressure. Now three years removed from their last winning season and playoff appearance, with seemingly less young talent than ever, the 2025 Draft represents an opportunity to take another step in the right direction for a franchise desperate for one.

But where should new General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Pete Carroll turn on Thursday when they hit the clock? With a competent quarterback now under contract in Geno Smith and a pair of major difference-makers on defense in Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins, the Raiders occupy a strange space between appearing close to competitiveness and still having major holes on the roster.

So with this in mind, let’s set the stage for the draft by identifying where the Raiders stand from a picks perspective, identifying the team’s greatest needs and some players who might be a good fit in each of the first few rounds.

Raiders Draft Picks

Round 1, pick 6

Round 2, pick 37

Round 3, pick 68

Round 4, pick 108

Round 5, pick 143

Round 6, pick 180

Round 6, pick 213 (compensatory)

Round 6, pick 215 (compensatory)

Round 7, pick 222

Team Needs

Running Back — As it stands, 32-year-old Raheem Mostert is the best running back currently on the roster, with youngsters Sincere McCormick and Zamir White in the mix as well. Around the league, this might be the worst running back room out there, but the good news is that this year’s draft class is one of the best running back groups of all time.

Cornerback — Technically, there are some live bodies on the roster, but none of them have proven or accomplished anything so far. Jakorian Bennett, Eric Stokes and Decamerion Richardson are the top three guys on the depth chart going into the season, and so the Raiders would benefit greatly from addressing this spot early on.

Linebacker — Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo are both gone, and while the Raiders did add Elandon Roberts and Devin White, there’s a reason both guys cost them very little in free agency. While this position has declined in value league-wide, Las Vegas is tempting fate by neglecting it to the degree they have thus far.

Wide Receiver — If you count Brock Bowers as an honorary member of this group, the need diminishes — but with only Jakobi Meyers among reliable options in the pass game outside of Bowers, this group could use an infusion of talent. Tre Tucker has been around for a few years but hasn’t developed much, and beyond him, the cupboard is bare.

Offensive Line — Technically, the Raiders have a group of guys who could fill out a competent offensive line if the season started today, but you could make a case that only one guy in that group is a building block (Jackson Powers-Johnson). Left tackle Kolton Miller might be in the midst of a holdout given that his contract expires at the end of next season, and beyond him, this group is made up of “fine” players, but not difference makers. If a player was drafted in the first three rounds at any position along the line, you could make the case that they would immediately be favorites to start.

Names to watch

Armand Membou — a right tackle from Missouri, Membou is one of the best athletes the draft has ever seen at his size. If taken in the first round, he would become an anchor on the offensive line for years to come.

Ashton Jeanty — one of the best running back prospects since Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley, Jeanty is among the safest bets in the entire class. The question is whether or not drafting a running back at No. 6 is the wisest use of resources.

Mason Graham — defensive tackle isn’t among the team’s biggest needs, but when the Raiders hit the clock on Thursday, there’s a chance he’s the best player available. Imagining a world where he’s lining up next to Wilkins and Crosby is pretty exciting, especially if you think about how many other issues on defense they might be able to cover up.

Jalon Walker — in today’s NFL, unpredictability on defense might be the league’s greatest weapon — and if used right, Walker could provide that all by himself. Capable of playing traditional linebacker or blitzing off the edge, he’s a chess piece that is built for the NFL in 2025.

Shadeur Sanders — the crop of quarterbacks in this year’s class is polarizing, and none more so than Sanders. With a quarterback under contract for a few years, would the Raiders really use their top pick on Sanders? If you buy into the toughness, the intelligence and the accuracy (I do), then you could make the case you should never pass on the opportunity to draft a difference maker at the most important position in sports.

This article first appeared on Raiders Newswire and was syndicated with permission.

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