There are no shortage of ways the Las Vegas Raiders can tackle the 2025 Draft.
For the longest time, it felt like a foregone conclusion that the Raiders were drafting a quarterback, even if it meant being aggressive in a year lacking depth at the position. However, the trade to bring Geno Smith to Las Vegas has changed plans considerably. While the Raiders are still in the market for a long-term option under center, they no longer have to make an ill-advised trade up the draft board or reach in a desperate attempt at landing a signal-caller.
With plenty of options on the table for the Raiders, it is important to understand how much sense each player makes for the team. Here are some players worth looking at for the sixth overall pick, and what the chances are the Raiders will actually draft them.
Great selections
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
With the Raiders looking for more receiving options outside of tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, McMillan makes perfect sense for Las Vegas at sixth overall.
Despite standing six-foot-four and weighing at 220 pounds, McMillan still lit up Arizona’s Pro Day with a 4.48 second 40-yard dash time. That speed. along with his size and ability to high-point the ball, project him as a strong jump-ball receiving option for the Raiders. The team does not appear interested in going after free agent wide receivers and, after potential target Stefon Diggs signed with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, the belief that the Raiders will look towards the draft at the position is even stronger now.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Johnson was confirmed as one of the Raiders’ top-30 visits, suggesting serious interest in making him their new shutdown cornerback.
While the Raiders have attacked the secondary during free agency, the position is still littered with question marks. Johnson provides some much-needed stability, taking the pressure off of some of the other options currently on the depth chart. His skill set is more fitting of a zone-heavy defense, but head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham are strong defensive minds who will know what to do with him.
Wild cards
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty has become the considerable favorite in mock drafts for the Raiders, but his selection poses an interesting question.
There is no denying that Jeanty is the most talented running back prospect to come out of the draft in a good bit. He possess the speed, elusiveness, patience and big-play ability any team wants in their backfield, especially a Raiders teams that fielded the worst rushing attack in the league in 2024. However, the last time the Raiders selected a running back so high was when they drafted Darren McFadden fourth overall in 2008 and, with the sheer number of talented backs in this class, the team could decide to be more prudent at the position and look elsewhere.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The hype surrounding Sanders to the Raiders has cooled off considerably since the Smith trade, but that does not rule him out entirely as a possibility.
There is a great chance Sanders is off the board by the time the Raiders are on the clock, but his connections with the organization are well-documented at this stage. Sanders has many of the qualities teams are looking for in a quarterback, but Carroll can insulate him and lean on the veteran Smith to create some space for development. With the need for a long-term quarterback solution still prevalent, Sanders sliding to the sixth overall pick would certainly create some discussion in the Raiders war room.
Long shots
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Prior to free agency, Graham made some sense for the Raiders as a potential draft option.
Graham stands out as one of the safest prospects in the class, having a floor as a strong run-stuffing defensive tackle with potential for more. That said, the Raiders have hit the defensive line hard so far this offseason, bringing back Adam Butler and Zach Carter while also signing veteran Leki Fotu. Adding Graham sounds like it would create a logjam on the defensive line at this point, but that was the one bit of nitpicking done about the Brock Bowers pick last year, so that might not be such a big deal for the Raiders.
Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Membou is one of my personal favorite prospects in this class, but the Raiders might already be set on the offensive line.
With his impressive length and athleticism, Membou went from a potential project to pushing for a top-five selection after one of the best Combine performances in the class. Membou could reasonably slide in at left tackle after Kolton Miller’s contract expires, and he would certainly be an upgrade on DJ Glaze at right tackle for the time being. That said, the Raiders have sounded content with the performance of the youth in the trenches and, despite Membou’s tantalizing potential at the next level, it is hard to believe they will want to stunt anyone’s development.
