B-
Las Vegas Raiders
Sanders is the plan now, and the Raiders grade out a B-.
by eric76ers ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 4 reaches
Start where it matters. The Raiders took Shedeur Sanders to run the offense for the next decade, and every other decision this weekend bends around that one. It does the job without flash, and the B- reflects it.
The Williams pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. They banked enough surplus on Burden III to cover a lot of smaller sins. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 6 they get a franchise quarterback. A clean fit for the roster.
They barely believed it either: Luther Burden III still on the board at Round 2, Pick 5. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Jalen Royals in the 68th pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A reach for O'Donnell Fortune in pick No. 108; a little patience would have been rewarded. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They will replay Kyle McCord at the Round 5 slot for years; that is how good the value is. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
RJ Harvey in the 180th overall pick is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They jumped the gun on Shemar James, taking him earlier than his grade liked. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
A wild overpay on John Williams in pick 215, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Brant Kuithe in No. 222 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.