Raiders Day 2 Draft Breakdown via “The Beast”

The Raiders walked away with four players on day 2 of the draft and just as importantly, the players they added should plug into real positions of need.

There will be plenty of draft grades and breakdowns in the days ahead, but let’s take look at how the Raiders’ draft played out on Friday from the perspective of Dane Brugler’s popular draft guide at The Athletic.

Brugler releases “The Beast” every year, and it is arguably the most comprehensive draft guide available ahead to the draft.

Going back to his quotes and analysis prior to the draft, let’s look at how the Raiders performed on day 2 of the draft…

Round 2 Pick 58: Jack Bech, WR, Texas Christian

Grade: 2nd-3rd Round

“A one-year starter at TCU, Bech was an outside receiver (primarily to the right of the formation) in offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ up-tempo, spread attack. As a hybrid receiver/tight end as a true freshman at LSU, he was part of a pass-catching group that included four future NFL Draft picks (Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Kayshon Boutte, Trey Palmer), yet it was Bech who led the Tigers in receptions in 2021. After the coaching change in Baton Rouge, he transferred to TCU but battled injuries in 2023 before breaking out as a senior, becoming just the fifth player in program history to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in a season…

Although he isn’t super dynamic, Bech is a smooth, physical athlete who can get in and out of breaks with gear change and route savvy (head fakes, body lean, etc.). He is a skilled ball tracker and plays with supreme confidence in his ability to adjust, frame and finish grabs (one drop on 91 targets in 2024). Overall, Bech’s acceleration is more build-up than immediate, and he will need to prove himself versus NFL press coverage, but he is urgent as a route runner with the ball-winning skills and competitive personality that will play. He has experience both inside and outside, and his play style is reminiscent of Puka Nacua.” – Brugler

Strengths:

• Physically strapped together — by the time you’re done reading this, he got in another lift
• Impeccable hand-eye coordination to frame the football, regardless of action required
• Uniquely effective catching the football with defenders hanging all over him
• Uses his physicality and focus to shield and force defenders to go through him (led the FBS in slant routes in 2024)
• Coordinated footwork and leverage points help him create a step of space out of route cuts
• Works his eyes and shoulders mid-route and has some savvy to his game
• Strong and balanced post-catch and often makes the first man miss
• Gets after it as a blocker, with plenty of compete in his DNA
• Primarily an inside receiver his first three years in college before moving outside in 2024
• Unmeasurable mental toughness and leans on his faith (regularly attended bible study at TCU) to get him through adversity, including his brother’s tragic death

Weaknesses:

• Quicker than fast and not a true burner
• NFL corners will squat on his routes until he proves to be a true deep threat
• Needs a beat to get back to full speed after physical defenders grind down his momentum
• Big jam target, so NFL press coverage will require some adjustments
• Struggled to stay healthy in college: MCL injury in the 2024 regular-season finale, which sidelined him for the bowl game (was able to return for the Senior Bowl); lingering injury from the 2022 season at LSU kept him sidelined for 2023 spring practices at TCU and carried into the season; ankle injury (Oct. 2023) that required tightrope surgery and forced him to miss four games.

Round 3, Pick 68: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Grade: 3rd-4th Round

“A one-year starter at Iowa State, Porter was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s zone-heavy scheme. Though he set a school record with 64 games played, most of his playing time came on special teams (970 career snaps), not offense (53) or defense (694). After spending his first three seasons in Ames at receiver, he moved to corner in 2022 and became a starter in 2024, although he was part of a rotation (only 35.4 defensive snaps per game in 2024)…

A towering athlete with a track background, Porter has exceptional athletic traits for his size and uses his length well to restrict air space in coverage (eight passes defended, zero touchdowns allowed over the past two seasons). He can be late to read route development, which is congruent with his experience, but his special teams background greatly increases his value (only player in Big 12 history with five or more career blocked kicks). Overall, Porter is a unique prospect that requires heavy projection because of his meager experience, but he has the rare combination of physical traits and promising ball skills to develop into an NFL starting corner. With rare size/speed and a wide receiver background, Riq Woolen is the natural NFL comparison — if Porter develops more of a competitive edge.” – Brugler

Strengths:

• Play speed and timed speed both elite (parents were accomplished college athletes)
• Posted outstanding mph numbers at both Senior Bowl (22.17) and combine (23.89)
• Boasts rare size and length for position
• Much better fluidity and change-of-direction skills than most tall corners
• Plays decisive in zone to overlap and confidently defend variety of routes (wasn’t flagged in 2024)
• Casts wide net with long and well-timed arms (defends fade particularly well)
• Former wide receiver; doesn’t become frozen on interception opportunities
• Plays with terrific chase effort to track down ball carriers
• Described by head coach Matt Campbell as “most selfless, most incredible human” on Iowa State roster
• Blocked four punts (one each of past four seasons) and one field goal over his career
• Played 970 career special teams snaps (18 tackles)

Weaknesses:

• Extremely lean experience — didn’t log first start until sixth college season
• Saw only 17 targets in 12 games in 2024 — body of work is lacking
• Underdeveloped coverage awareness and still learning how to pick up route clues
• Has length for press man but wasn’t asked to do it much
• Average upper-body strength; needs to crank up physicality
• Tall center of gravity disrupts ability to come to balance as tackler
• Needs to become better finisher once he gets hands on ball carrier
• Missed one game as super senior because of ankle issue (Oct. 2024); missed most of junior year of high school with wrist injury, which required two surgeries
• Older player — already 24

Round 3, Pick 98: Caleb Rogers, OT, Texas Tech

Grade: 4th-5th Round

“A four-year starter at Texas Tech, Rogers worked primarily at right tackle in former offensive coordinator Zach Kittley’s heavy-zone/counter scheme with some gap-based principles (pin-pull, etc.). With 4,331 offensive snaps in college, he is one of the most experienced players in this draft class — he made 55 straight starts across four different positions (and developed under three different offensive line coaches)…

With his loose movement skills, Rogers is efficient at reaching his landmarks to anchor in pass protection. He is at his best pulling in the run game when he can build momentum, locate targets and thump in space. Though his hands are heavy, his balance and pad level start to work against him when attempting to counter shifty rushers or sustain in the run game. Overall, Rogers needs continued technical refinement with his hands and posture, especially inside at guard, but his blend of foot quickness, play strength and competitive toughness create optimism for his pro transition. He projects as a versatile backup with spot-starter potential.” – Brugler

Strengths:

• Impressive initial quicks and plays light on his feet
• Excels on short/long pulls and creates creases on backside gaps
• Stout at contact, with violent hands to drive and finish
• Earned spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” (406-pound power clean, 600-pound squat)
• Anchors well and has firm punch (specifically studies Erik McCoy)
• Energetic play personality and doesn’t coast
• Durable — didn’t miss start in past four seasons
• Voted a senior captain and was on team’s leadership council starting sophomore year (nickname in the program was “Captain Rogers”)
• Multiple starts at four different offensive line positions (also practiced at center)

Weaknesses:

• Arms fall below desired length to stay at tackle
• Inconsistent base and pads steadily rise, creating leverage disruption
• Needs to protect against powerful defenders pulling his weight away from him
• Initial quickness much better than countering/redirect quickness
• Will slide off blocks when he gets overextended
• Eight penalties in 2024 — way too many, given his experience (four holding flags, three false starts, one personal foul)
• Just four of 55 career starts came on interior
• Will turn 24 during rookie season

Round 3, Pick 99: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary

Grade: 3rd Round

“A four-year starter at William & Mary, Grant locked down the left tackle position in former offensive coordinator Mario Acitelli’s creative, zone-based run scheme (the Tribe ranked fourth in the FCS with 232.8 rushing yards per game in 2024). After enrolling as a 240-pounder with very little football experience, he blossomed into a weapon at the blindside and was the only offensive lineman named a finalist for the 2024 Walter Payton Award, which recognizes the top offensive player in the FCS…

Grant is light-footed, long-armed and flashes a competitive edge through the whistle — a great place to start for an offensive lineman. Though his agility jumps off the screen, savvy edge defenders will key on the unpolished areas of his game, primarily his upright pads and frenetic pacing. Overall, Grant is a nimble big man with outstanding range, length and movement twitch, but he needs to develop better patience and muscle mass to match up with NFL competition. He has the traits of a future NFL starter and projects best in a zone-heavy offense, similar in ways to Spencer Burford.” – Brugler

Strengths:

• Fluid athlete with exceptional foot quickness in pass pro and run game
• Easily redirects laterally with lower-body flexibility and burst
• Long-armed frame with a good feel for strike placement in pass sets to keep rushers off his body
• Persistent hands once connected to push defenders in opposite direction they want to go
• Can see wrestling background in how he uses body positioning
• Executes backside cut-off blocks with proper angles
• Rangy big man on climbs, screens and pulls
• Cleanly lines up and picks off defenders in space
• Competes hard; consistent block finisher
• Voted a team captain senior season
• Started all 36 games past three seasons

Weaknesses:

• Lean body type and doesn’t carry ideal mass or girth
• Upper-body strength isn’t as impressive as arm length
• More pusher than violent puncher
• Upright in his sets and pad level can work against him
• Narrow base will zap his power in drive phase
• Frantic movements in space lead to breakdowns in his footwork (and grabby holds)
• Most of competition faced in college came at FCS level
• Only played left tackle — didn’t log any snaps at guard, center or right tackle for William & Mary
• Injury in final college game, which sidelined him for Senior Bowl

The Raiders have six more picks on Saturday, and all eyes will be on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Will Sanders be headed to the Raiders or will it be Will Howard, who along with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, led Ohio State to the college national championship in January?

x: @raidersbeat