Next Raiders Draft Haul Equally as Important as Last Season

The Las Vegas Raiders claimed last year's NFL Draft haul was foundational to the team's future. After all they have been through the previous few months, this year's draft haul is equally essential.

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco during the NFL / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Las Vegas Raiders have long said that their haul in the 2023 NFL Draft was crucial to the team’s future. The last regime called that year’s picks foundational, as former Raiders coach Josh McDaniels had high expectations of the draft class and confidence in himself and his coaching staff to coach the young players.

While McDaniels was fired midseason, many of his final draft class wound up playing significant time and becoming just what Daniels had in mind.

By the end of the season, the Raiders began getting more production from defensive lineman Tyree Wilson by moving him to the interior defensive line. When Wilson entered the league, he was still recovering from an injury suffered before he was drafted. Between being unable to attend an entire offseason in the NFL and being thrown into the starting defensive end position after Chandler Jones and the team parted ways, it was a slow start for Wilson.

The previous coaching regime playing him out of position added to Wilson’s slow start, but by end of the season, Wilson’s growth was undeniable and his importance to the team could not be understated. 

After drafting Wilson, the Raiders traded up in the second round to draft arguably the best tight end available in Michael Mayer. Much like Wilson, Mayer was off to a slow start to his rookie season but for other reasons than Wilson. For the first eight weeks of the season, the Raiders struggled to find ways to get one of their best pass-catchers involved.

Like Wilson, though, Mayer ended up showing flashes of his potential. The fact that he could do so on an offense that featured running back Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams was even more impressive.

The Raiders would also draft starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell, wide receiver Tre Tucker, and defensive back Jakorian Bennett, amongst others. In addition to Wilson and Mayer, the Raiders were correct that last year’s draft haul would be foundational. They drafted a handful of players who became starters or played significant time during their rookie seasons and are expected to play even more in their second year with the team. 

As the Raiders focus on this year’s NFL Draft, they must do so with the intention of this year’s draft class being just as critical to their success as last year’s draft. Pairing two consecutive successful drafts together would get the Raiders closer to their overall goals.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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