The draft is officially two weeks away and the Raiders are going to be one of the most interesting teams to watch as the 2025 draft unfolds.
With new leadership in the building and holes to fill all over the roster, the decision makers in Las Vegas have the “luxury” of going in a lot of different directions in this year’s draft.
With that in mind, let’s have some fun with 5 predictions about and around the Raiders going into the draft…
Raiders pass on a running back in the first round
All the draft hype around the Raiders in the last few weeks seems to be about Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
They need a running back, but with so many RB options later in the draft, the Raiders will reserve the no. 6 pick for a position group that tends to play longer in the league than running backs.
Offensive and defensive line should trump the running back position at this stage in the game for the Raiders.
Raiders pass on Shedeur Sanders in the first round
Not every prediction will involve who the Raiders won’t pick, but with all the conversations around where Sanders is going to be drafted, he gets a headline along with Jeanty.
Sanders has been critiqued for every detail imaginable, but it’s the presence of Deion Sanders that will cause teams to shy away from Shedeur more than anything else.
In the end, look for the New Orleans Saints to be the team to take Sanders with the no. 9 pick in the draft.
No one has reported on the Saints’ interest in Sanders (or maybe they have on another corner of the interwebs), but they have turned into the forgotten NFL organization over the last few months. As it stands, New Orleans isn’t going to get a single primetime game in 2025, but if they draft Shedeur, they’ll get at least three.
If they don’t go with Shedeur, Jaxson Dart is another quarterback the Saints might talk themselves into with the no. 9 pick.
If he’s available, the Raiders will draft LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell
Whether they want to use the term or not, the Raiders are in rebuild mode and Will Campbell would be a great start to the John Spytek era in Las Vegas.
Jon Gruden kicked off his second tenure with the Raiders by drafting Kolton Miller and Spytek will be inclined to take a similar approach. It’s hard to win in the NFL with a patchwork offensive line and Campbell has the ability to hold down one of the most important positions on the field for the next 10 years in Las Vegas.
When in doubt, go with the best big man available in the trenches.
Raiders draft Ohio State quarterback Will Howard
This feels like the easiest prediction of the bunch.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has familiarity with Howard from Ohio State and the college veteran has every skill set necessary to be an above-average quarterback at the next level.
At 6’4, 235 pounds, Howard has the size to hold up in the NFL and he would be a great value for the Raiders if he’s on the board in the third or fourth round.
Raiders will draft offensive players with 3 of their first 4 picks
They need help on defense, but help isn’t on the way just yet.
With an offensive lineman in the first round, a running back and quarterback on day two, there won’t be many early picks earmarked for defensive players.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham returned to Las Vegas despite having other options on the table, and he’ll need the best coaching effort of his career to hold up in the AFC West with the personnel at his disposal in 2025.
x: @raidersbeat
Praying them make some great choices and decisions. Let’s go Raider Nation!!!!!!!
Yeah it’s been a very long time. Praying for Raider Nation.
It’s a pretty solid outlook, I wouldn’t be mad at any of those moves. I still think Campbell will be gone, and Mason Graham will be the one available to the Raiders. Not sure I would pick Will Howard in the third round, in the fourth round would be sweet, kind of doubt he would be there. I know Gruden loved him up, but Gruden loves up all those guys that did that show. I do a couple of pick simulators every other day and almost always 1: Graham, 2: Omarion Hampton, 3: is where you have to decide CB, OL, WR, because those positions get thinned out by round 4. Still guys there, but project players.