B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders left with their quarterback, and a B- to match.
by mfinch31 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The Raiders spent the pick that matters most on Cam Ward, and a roster that has been waiting on a passer can start to take shape. The bottom line is a respectable B-.
The McCord value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it. They are betting Burke proves the room right and everyone else wrong.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick-by-Pick
They took Cam Ward at par in the Round 1 slot, which is nothing to complain about. The roster fit checks out.
A quiet steal in Round 2, Pick 5: Nick Emmanwori for less than the market said. A minor itch, scratched.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Elic Ayomanor at No. 68 is the proof. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They jumped the gun on Denzel Burke, taking him earlier than his grade liked. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Ozzy Trapilo in the 107th overall pick should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Kyle McCord at slot 144 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They paid a round early for Luke Elzinga in pick 182, more than the board wanted. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.