B
Las Vegas Raiders
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Raiders a B.
by Lance57 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 2 steals
· 4 reaches
It is the swing that defines the weekend: Leonard Taylor III in Round 3, Pick 4, a good 44 spots before the room expected him. The bottom line is a respectable B.
The dealing alone would carry a lesser class. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. The Raiders indulged a want in Gray while a need in edge rusher, running back and other spots stayed open.
Getting Tagovailoa where they did is the sort of value that quietly makes a class.
Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a matchup problem out wide. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
T.J. Tampa at Round 2, Pick 16 is money in the bank, a cornerback taken below his worth. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They reached a country mile for Leonard Taylor III at No. 68, and the board is aghast. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
By-the-book stuff, Zak Zinter at slot 88 squarely in line with his ranking. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A reach for DeWayne Carter in the 91st overall pick; a little patience would have been rewarded. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They jumped the gun on Tommy Eichenberg, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Cedric Gray adds a linebacker and leaves edge rusher, running back and other spots untouched.
They took Jaylan Ford at par in No. 173, which is nothing to complain about. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Demorie Tate at the 224th overall pick is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Nice patience on Taulia Tagovailoa, who had no business lasting to slot 234. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.