B
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders found their guy under center in Ward: B.
by Misterhenrik ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The Raiders did not reach, did not trade up, did not blink. They just waited, and Tai Felton fell into the 180th overall pick.
Cam Ward is the bet, and the class will be judged on how it pays off. Reaching for Buchanan left real value on the table behind him. If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through edge rusher.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
A market-rate quarterback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Cam Ward. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Luther Burden III at pick No. 37 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They paid sticker price for Darien Porter in the 68th pick, and that is fine. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Will Howard in the 108th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A need, and now a little less of one.
Jordan James in pick No. 143 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They will replay Tai Felton at pick 180 for years; that is how good the value is. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Teddye Buchanan at Round 6, Pick 37 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It adds depth where they could use a little.
A big swing on CJ Dippre at the Round 6 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
The board had Nazir Stackhouse higher than slot 222, and the interior defensive lineman fell to them anyway. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.