B+
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders left with their quarterback, and a B+ to match.
by JayRaider ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 2 steals
· 4 reaches
They finally answered the question that shadows every other one. J.J. McCarthy is the Raiders' quarterback, full stop.
Every board in the league had Bailey lower, and that gap is the story. Every deal seemed to tilt their way, which is not luck. The Fuaga steal is the beam this whole class leans on.
They punted on edge rusher, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 18 they get the arm they will build around. A real need, handled.
A top-tier offensive lineman at a bargain, Taliese Fuaga in pick No. 44, plain and simple. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
By-the-book stuff, T.J. Tampa at the 49th pick squarely in line with his ranking. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Steal is underselling it; Xavier Worthy at Round 3, Pick 13 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Maason Smith at slot 112 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They took Cedric Gray at par in the 115th overall pick, which is nothing to complain about. A minor itch, scratched.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Ty'Ron Hopper in the Round 5 slot, miles early. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Value said wait; Emani Bailey in No. 223 says they were not listening. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Trevin Wallace in the 224th pick is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
LaDarius Henderson in Round 7, Pick 9 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.