C+
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders bet the future on McCarthy. The board says C+.
by kauffyk22 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 1 steals
· 5 reaches
The one hole that towered over the rest is filled. The Raiders spent their marquee pick on J.J. McCarthy, and for the first time in a while there is a real answer at quarterback. Call it a C+ and check back in two years.
If one pick saves this weekend, it is Williams. The McCarthy pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped tight end, which is a strange place to end up.
Call it incomplete, and check back in a couple of seasons.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 13 they get their guy under center for the next decade, a steep price for the projection. A real need, handled.
They paid up for Kingsley Suamataia at the 44th overall pick when waiting would have done the job. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A straight-up fair deal on Mike Sainristil at pick 77, value and slot in agreement. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They took Malik Washington at par in the Round 4 slot, which is nothing to complain about. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Drake Nugent. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid a round early for Braelon Allen in Round 5, Pick 11, more than the board wanted. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A reach on Jaylen Harrell in slot 190; the board had better options right there. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They paid sticker price for Sheridan Jones in pick No. 221, and that is fine. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Isaiah Williams at slot 231 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.