Maybe the Las Vegas Raiders are better off drafting a premier offensive line prospect while grabbing a quarterback in Day 2 of the NFL draft.
This year’s batch of quarterback prospects has been a highly divisive one. Opinions range from franchise-altering to downright terrible. Many feel that 2024 should’ve been the year that the Raiders got their franchise signal-caller. Of course, that didn’t happen; thank you, Antonio Pierce.
Still, 2025 presents a unique opportunity if you’re general manager John Spytek. This positional class he’ll have to choose from has some talented individuals. However, arguably the top two options could very well be off the board by the time the sixth pick comes around. If that’s the case, can we envision a scenario where the Raiders select an offensive lineman, thereby securing the unit’s future?
What are NFL insiders saying about the Raiders and their draft pick?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also believes this could be a possibility while discussing the draft with Maxx Crosby recently.
“I know a lot of people think the Raiders are going to take a running back in round one, and they might, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they wound up going with a guy like Armand Membou, the offensive tackle, instead of a running back.”
Meanwhile, Spytek could grab a quarterback on Day. For example, the Raiders could go for the likes of Jaxson Dart (assuming everyone cools it with the Day 1 hype), Jalen Milroe, Will Howard, or Riley Leonard from Notre Dame. Those names aren’t the flashiest, but they might have to be if you’re the Raiders. Again, thank you, Pierce. Even Pro Football Focus notes the drop-off after Day 1 in their recent rankings.
Schefter, meanwhile, also echoed that quarterbacks above could end up coming off the board quickly in the second and third rounds.
“I think it’s going to be fewer rather than more in this draft for quarterbacks… I think what’s more likely to happen—my guess would be that we see a run on some of these quarterbacks on Day 2.”
Again, it’s not a “sexy” play to grab one of the aforementioned names, not really. Still, Raiders fans have to trust that Spytek and Co. have done their homework and will go with the right kid. Raider Nation can only hope this decision feels like it’s been in the making since Derek Carr was for all intents and purposes, fired from his job.
