D
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders left with their quarterback, and a D to match.
by Big Ol Mike ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
The Raiders lost the trade war and it was not close, handing partners the better end again and again. The process wobbled, and the D is where it lands.
They have staked the next five years on Bo Nix, which is the only story that really matters here. The Raiders indulged a want in Moore while a need in running back, tight end and other spots stayed open.
On value alone, McCoy makes the weekend a net positive. Leaving running back unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
They will need Moore to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it.
It is a steep hill from here, and the grade knows it.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 14 they get a franchise quarterback. A clean fit for the roster.
In pick 26 they get a blindside protector at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
A surprising call. With running back, tight end and other spots still to address, they spent slot 67 on Rod Moore, a defensive back they were not short of.
D.J. James at Round 3, Pick 16 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Amarius Mims in the 89th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Nice patience on Smael Mondon Jr., who had no business lasting to pick No. 114. It adds depth where they could use a little.
A quiet steal in the 125th pick: Jalen McMillan for less than the market said. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
The board had cheaper options than Antwaun Powell-Ryland at the Round 5 slot, and it noticed. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jordan Burch at pick 192 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Steal is underselling it; Bru McCoy at the 235th overall pick is a heist with the alarm still ringing. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.