Did the Raiders accidentally pick the wrong Byron Young in the third round the of 2023 draft?
There were rumors two years ago that the Raiders meant to draft University of Tennessee edge rusher Byron Young but instead turned in the pick for the University of Alabama defensive tackle Byron Young. At the time, the conversation was more tongue in cheek as the majority of draft boards ranked Tennessee’s Byron Young a round or two ahead of Alabama’s Byron Young.
But it did feel like there could have been something to the story when it surfaced that the Raiders actually contacted the wrong agent ahead of selecting Alabama’s Byron Young.
The Rams’ Byron Young said the Raiders accidentally texted his agent to tell him he was being drafted by the Raiders. Whoever texted the agent then realized it was a mistake (or maybe it wasn’t?) and told him to disregard the message.
The Rams’ Byron Young shared the story in November of 2023…
Now in the 2025, the story of the Byron Youngs has resurfaced, and Raider Nation Radio Radio host Q Myers said he believes the Raiders actually did draft the Alabama Byron Young on accident.
“This is just me, I don’t know this for a fact, but I definitely believe they selected the wrong Byron Young. I think unintentionally. I think it was just attention to detail,” Myers told ESPN Radio. “I don’t know this, and it could just end up being a funny, but he was selected before Byron Young went to the Rams, and I remember a lot of people said ‘Wait, are you sure it’s the Alabama one that they’re taking?'”
What’s significant about the comments from Myers is that he is one of the popular personalities on the Raiders’ flagship radio station. He would have no motivation to float rumors that make the organization look foolish.
He also isn’t one to make up stories.
For the Raiders and maybe more specifically, former GM Dave Ziegler, the story is a no-win situation.
Either the team drafted a defensive lineman in the third round that was waived after one season, or they accidentally drafted the wrong player.
Neither story is particularly flattering. One might not be worse than the other.
Outside of Young, the Raiders’ 2023 draft is still very much a work in progress. It hasn’t been great, but it still has potential. Tyree Wilson, Michael Mayer, Tre Tucker, Jakorian Bennett and Aidan O’Connell all came from the 2023 class and Young is the only early to mid-round pick no longer with the team.
x: @raidersbeat
With the clown show that was McDaniels/Zeigler nothing is surprising. Absolutely set the team back by at least 5 years and probably more.
Not surprising. That sounds like some stupid sh! the Raiders would do 🙄
I don’t know, they had already picked Wilson at edge. Our interior lineman were a need also, I think it was probably just a bad pick. He had no motor, couldn’t beat a one on one.
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡✔️😳
I agree with Jay, sounds like some stupid s%#t the raiders would do. I don’t agree with Raider Nation. The guy that set the Raiders back 5 years was none other than Jon Gruden. The only first round pick he made still on the roster is Kolton Miller. He also made two disastrous trades with the Pittsburgh Steelers 2 years in a row for Antonio Brown and the other druggie receiver. He was a TERRIBLE talent evaluator and couldn’t draft beer!!
I definitely agree with u the clown show was bad and it might’ve set us back a few years but the moron who really did damage to the Raiders was Jon Gruden with his draft picks and trades that were very stoopid especially wasting 1st rd draft pks on players who could’ve been pked later in the draft instead of over reaching for a player but unfortunately he wasn’t the only raiders gm who made questionable draft decisions