Most Las Vegas Raiders mock drafts play out the same, and it is not difficult to see why.
The need for the Raiders at quarterback has dominated the talk surrounding this upcoming offseason. In the eyes of experts, it feels like an inevitability that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will announce either Miami’s Cameron Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders as the first pick of the Raiders. Fans are all but ready to crown their next franchise savior, hoping they can guide the Raiders to a glorious new era.
So what if it does not play out that way? What if the Raiders do not want to run the risk of creating a revolving door at quarterback and instead preach continuity? What if Aidan O’Connell’s impressive performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday carries through the rest of the season, or if general manager Tom Telesco becomes enamored with a free agent quarterback like Sam Darnold or Justin Fields? What if a quarterback-needy team out-tanks the Raiders and forces them out of the running for Ward or Sanders?
That is the scenario that plays out here. Ward and Sanders are off the board as the Raiders fall to the third overall selection, and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe returns to school to close off that backup plan. The dropoff between those three and the next tier of quarterbacks available is steep, and Telesco ultimately chooses to build around O’Connell or a free agent instead of reach for the likes of Georgia’s Carson Beck or Texas’s Quinn Ewers. It would be far from ideal, but being prepared for the worst and devising an alternate plan could still work out in the Raiders’ favor.
So how does this all play out?
Round 1, Pick 3: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Sanders is having to duke it out with Ward for top quarterback honors, but Hunter is widely considered the best prospect available this April.
It just so happens that the Raiders have a need at both positions that Hunter plays, so this route ultimately works out. The Raiders lack a true receiving threat outside of tight end Brock Bowers, while slot cornerback Nate Hobbs is a free agent after this season and Jack Jones has been up-and-down as the top cornerback. While the NFL has never seen a prospect like Hunter who excels at two positions, it is anticipated that Hunter will be a full-time cornerback at the professional level while contributing in specific packages offensively. The Raiders are currently last in the league this season with only five takeaways, so a certified ballhawk like Hunter would fix that issue practically on his own. A prospect of Hunter’s caliber would instantly change the dynamic of the Raiders, giving them a special player who can make the splash plays that the team has lacked all season.
Losing out on a quarterback might be brutal in the eyes of Raiders fans, but the team would be far from settling on someone with Hunter.
Round 2, Pick 35: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
With Hunter more of a gadget player offensively, the Raiders’ next focus in this situation is clearly to get help around O’Connell.
Regardless of draft position or what route the Raiders ultimately decide to go down, Harris is a great pick at this stage of the draft. While Harris has not gotten the same sort of attention as other wide receiver prospects like Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan or Missouri’s Luther Burden III, he belongs in that conversation because of his size and athleticism combined with his impressive production. Despite missing four games due to injury, Harris is still 16th in the nation with 1,030 receiving yards, as well as notching seven touchdowns. Harris is everything the Raiders are looking for at the receiver position: a true threat on the outside who will complement Bowers near-perfectly. He has the necessary speed to burn cornerbacks down the field, while also having the strength to win contested catches. Harris has all the tools to be a matchup nightmare in the NFL, and having a weapon of that magnitude will make any quarterback happy.
Expect Harris to be firmly on the Raiders’ draft board, and they will be ecstatic to pick him up to start the second round.
Round 3, Pick 67: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Another common refrain towards the Raiders’ draft strategy is the desperate need for a running back.
While undrafted free agent Sincere McCormick has performed admirably since entering the lineup, the Raiders simply need more bodies in the backfield. Leading rusher Alexander Mattison is a free agent after the season, while Zamir White has endured a rough sophomore year. What the Raiders are looking for is an all-purpose threat who can impact the game in multiple aspects, and Johnson fits that profile well. Sitting fourth in the nation with 1,537 rushing yards and fifth with 21 touchdowns on the ground, Johnson has been one of the steadiest risers in this year’s class. While Johnson may not be an athletic marvel like some other running backs in the class, he more than makes up for it with his versatility and football IQ. He diagnoses the play in front of him well, attacking any open gaps and being opportunistic about where he can get the most yards. While he has not been asked to do much in Iowa’s passing game, he has showcased adequate receiving and pass protection skills to present himself as a possible three-down workhorse back. That is the type of player the Raiders will be happy to get to start the third.
Johnson fits the offensive identity that the Raiders should be aiming for, and bringing him in will only make that identity easier to apply.
Round 3, Pick 72 (from New York Jets): Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
In ten years as general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers, six of Telesco’s draft picks were from Notre Dame. If the Raiders use a pick on someone from the Fighting Irish, that should not come as a surprise.
Watts is more than just a pick from a familiar program, however. Tied for third in the nation with five interceptions, Watts would join Hunter in fixing the Raiders’ takeaway problem. What stands out about Watts is how versatile he is, making plays in the passing game while serving as a physical force and sure tackler against the run. His motor never stops running, playing the game at full speed on every snap. By drafting Watts, the Raiders land a heat-seeking missile that locks onto the ball carrier and aims to make an impact. While there are some technical issues to work out in coverage, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is a solid coach who can place Watts in a position to succeed right away. Comparable players that Graham has worked with include Eric Rowe with the Miami Dolphins and Xavier McKinney with the New York Giants, which showcases the level he can help Watts reach early in his NFL career.
A new-look secondary with Hunter and Watts patrolling the defensive backfield would make opponents think twice about throwing on the Raiders. In a division with talented quarterbacks like the AFC West, an improved pass defense is a must.
