B-
Las Vegas Raiders
Good, not great, for the Raiders: B-.
by csmelley ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 0 steals
· 1 reaches
The Raiders put a flag in the ground for Joshua Cephus, 29 picks before anyone else would have, and the value took the hit. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.
If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through quarterback. They left with edge rusher solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
Good work on the whole, with quarterback the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 13 they get a premier pass rusher at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
They took T'Vondre Sweat at par in pick No. 44, which is nothing to complain about. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Kris Abrams-Draine. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They did well to land Cole Bishop in the Round 4 slot, just ahead of his grade. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Marist Liufau in the 147th pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
No edge and no loss on Nathan Thomas in slot 210; it is a wash and a sensible one. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Frank Gore Jr. at the 221st pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
No drama and no debate, Rasheen Ali went about where he belonged in No. 225. The roster fit checks out.
Value said wait; Joshua Cephus in pick No. 227 says they were not listening. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.