B
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders answered their biggest question with Daniels. Grade: B.
by sabanmetrics2 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 6 steals
· 1 reaches
Nobody else had Xavier Thomas anywhere near the Round 3 slot. The Raiders did, by 85 spots, and that gap is the whole story.
Whatever Jayden Daniels becomes, the front office has tied its fortunes to the answer. The Flournoy value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped running back, which is a strange place to end up.
The offense got the lion's share of the attention.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but running back.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 13th overall pick they get a passer to set the clock by at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
Brian Thomas Jr. in No. 44 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A wild overpay on Xavier Thomas in the Round 3 slot, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
You do not let a cornerback like Elijah Jones reach pick 135 and blink. They did not. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Christian Jones slipping to Round 5, Pick 12 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Curtis Jacobs at slot 208. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Somehow Ryan Flournoy was still sitting there in the 223rd pick, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Nice patience on Nathaniel Watson, who had no business lasting to pick 229. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.