The Raiders could go in a lot of directions with the no. 6 pick in the draft, but according to league insider Tony Pauline, the decision in Las Vegas is probably going to come down to two players.
“Injuries may dictate what the Las Vegas Raiders do with the sixth pick of the draft. Assuming running back Ashton Jeanty is not available when they are called to the clock, I’m told it will come down to defensive tackle Mason Graham of Michigan or offensive tackle Armand Membou of Missouri,” Pauline reported on Monday.
But the bigger story in Pauline’s report involved a veteran player that’s already on the Raiders’ roster.
Pauline said there is still concern within the Raider organization around the foot injury that ended the season for star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
“The state of the Raiders offensive line would seem to dictate Membou as the pick, yet I’m told there is serious concern over a foot injury Christian Wilkins has been dealing with since last season,” Pauline continued.
“Wilkins underwent surgery to repair a Jones fracture he suffered in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve, missing the remainder of the season. He may need to have an additional procedure on the foot, and sources tell me Wilkins could miss a significant portion of the 2025 season. That concern may sway the decision in Graham’s favor.”
There have not been any notable reports on Wilkins’ foot injury in recent months, but his situation will definitely be one to keep an eye on.
The recovery process with foot injuries can sometimes be more challenging with players of Wilkins’ size, but it’s also worth noting that the season is still more than four months away.
In theory, still enough time for him to get back to full strength?
x: @raidersbeat
Graham would be a great pick at 6. Regardless of roster status.