2025 Raiders NFL draft grades: Grades for every Las Vegas selection
The Las Vegas Raiders are going all-in.
Stuck in NFL purgatory since their departure from Oakland, the Raiders have tapped into their West Coast roots – bringing in a few Seattle Seahawks to right the ship.
Pete Carroll and Geno Smith are hoping their success in the Pacific Northwest translates to the desert, returning the Raiders to relevancy in a competitive AFC West.
Those two decisions have done a couple things, however. It has sped up the rebuild, but also opened a window to contend that doesn't line up with the roster. Carroll is 73 and Smith is 34, which likely means they aren't long-term solutions for the silver and black.
The duo can provide stability, though.
It remains to be seen whether those Seahawks can fix the Raiders, but anything can happen if they nail the draft. With the quarterback spot figured out for at least the next two seasons, Vegas can go in a number of directions to close the talent gap.
Paste BN Sports and the Paste BN Network is giving out grades during the 2025 NFL Draft. Here's a look at the Raiders' report card.
Raiders NFL draft grades
This section will be updated as picks are made.
Round 1, Pick 6: RB Ashton Jeanty
The Raiders had long been linked to Jeanty, but it appeared the Jaguars - or another team willing to trade up - could leapfrog them. But the draft dominoes allowed the Silver and Black to make a massive move to transform the league's last-ranked rushing attack. Can Jeanty do it alone, though? The Heisman Trophy runner-up has an immaculate ability to create yardage by slipping past would-be tacklers or bouncing off them, but we've long seen the limitations that even elite running backs can face when not surrounded by proper support. Las Vegas has a long way to go in building out its line, receiving corps and defense to make this pick pay off.
Jeanty is one of the best running back prospects of the last five years. He's a rare prospect with elite contact balance that makes him hard to bring down. He has plenty of untapped potential as a receiver; Boise State didn't deploy him in the passing game that much. He should be an immediate boost for the Raiders' offense in both the running and passing game.
Round 2, Pick 58: Jack Bech, WR, TCU
More skill-position talent is headed to Sin City to invigorate the Silver and Black's attack. Geno Smith likely will need to trust Bech in jump-ball scenarios to truly take advantage of what he offers, but the 6-1, 214-pounder's track record suggests he'll continue to deliver in tight quarters.
The Raiders continue to build up the skill positions on offense with Bech, a ready-made slot standout. He's not as athletic as the other prospects at the position in the class but he's a reliable route-runner with very good hands and a competitive streak. With Brock Bowers as the top dog in the passing game, Bech should fit in well as a No. 2 or No. 3 option. The Raiders need a lot of help on defense, though.
Round 3, Pick 68: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Pete Carroll and John Spytek settle a particularly pressing spot with a pick that Al Davis would have loved. At 6-3 and 195 pounds with 4.3-speed in the 40-yard dash, Porter boasts astonishing athleticism and considerable ball skills at cornerback. But the former receiver is very much not a finished product given his limited experience at the position, and he could be in for some turbulent reps in coverage if he's forced into a heavy rookie workload.
The Raiders had a huge need at cornerback entering the draft and get a prospect exactly in the mold of what Pete Carroll wants. Porter is one of the tallest cornerbacks in the draft and very athletic. He has just one year of starting experience under his belt so he may need some time to get up to speed in the NFL.
Round 3, Pick 98: Caleb Rogers, IOL, Texas Tech
Several college offensive tackles in this class are headed inside, and Rogers appears to be one of them. His prowess when pulling should serve Ashton Jeanty well, though he's well short of a full-on bulldozer.
Las Vegas is a bit thin on the interior offensive line and spend resources on it in Round 3. Rogers played tackle at Texas Tech but his short arms and lighter frame will likely keep him inside. In time, he'll be a solid depth piece but this also feels like a reach.
Round 3, Pick 99: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
Traits of a high-end pass protector are difficult to find this late in the draft, and Grant certainly has them. A jump in competition will make for a rocky transition, but there's the payoff here could be considerable, especially with left tackle Kolton Miller's future unresolved amid contract questions.
The Raiders go back-to-back on the offensive line with the traits-y Grant. The small-school standout needs a lot of development and to bulk up at the NFL level but he has the ideal length to be a potential long-term starter at tackle. If not, he has a very good future at guard.
Round 4, Pick 108: Dont'e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee
Las Vegas needs more pass-catchers to support star tight end Brock Bowers and, after getting a slot receiver in Round 2 with Jack Bech, get an outside threat in Thornton Jr. here. His downfield speed should add a dynamic vertical element to the Raiders' offense.
Round 4, Pick 135: Tonka Hemingway, DT, South Carolina
Hemingway is undersized at 6-foot-3 and 282 pounds with short arms but makes up for it with his movement skills at that size. He may end up better on the edge than the interior. In either case, the Raiders could use more reinforcements on the line.
Round 6, Pick 180: JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
Pegues was expected to go much higher than this thanks to his versatility on offense in addition to his athleticism on defense. He doesn't have as much power as expected given his 6-foot-2, 305-pound frame but he has solid strength and alignment versatility. He should be a boost to the Raiders' defensive line sooner than later.
Round 6, Pick 213 (compensatory): Tommy Mellott, QB, Montana State
Mellott is small by NFL quarterback standards at 6-foot and 208 pounds but is an impressive athlete (4.42-second 40-yard dash). That lends to think he may end up playing a different position in the NFL. If that's the case, the Raiders could use more help on both sides of the ball at this pick instead.
Round 6, Pick 215 (compensatory): Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State
Las Vegas makes it two quarterbacks in the last three picks by taking Miller, the productive four-year starter from North Dakota State. Miller's physical traits are average but his intangibles are solid and he makes the right decisions. He'll be a good backup to Geno Smith for Las Vegas.
Round 7, Pick 222: Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota
Las Vegas went the free agent route to address linebacker this offseason and opt for a potential future starter in Lindenberg here. The Minnesota product has NFL size at 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds and traits to be effective but his instincts and processing can leave him a step behind. At the very least he'll be a special teams contributor.
Raiders NFL draft picks
- Round 1, Pick 6: RB Ashton Jeanty
- Round 2, Pick 58: Jack Bech, WR, TCU
- Round 3, Pick 68: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
- Round 3, Pick 98: Caleb Rogers, IOL, Texas Tech
- Round 3, Pick 99: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
- Round 4, Pick 108: Dont'e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee
- Round 4, Pick 135: Tonka Hemingway, DT, South Carolina
- Round 6, Pick 180: JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
- Round 6, Pick 213 (compensatory): Tommy Mellott, QB, Montana State
- Round 6, Pick 215 (compensatory): Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State
- Round 7, Pick 222: Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota