Raider's No. 13 Pick: Key to Start the Telesco, Pierce Era Right

The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 13 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. As draft day approaches, it is anyone's guess what they will do with it -- but they can't get it wrong.

The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 13 pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Historically, the 13th overall selection has taken players that more than lived up to their first-round promise.

In 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers used the pick to select running back Franco Harris out of nearby Penn State. En route to a Hall of Fame career, Harris would become a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (IX), help the Steelers to four Lombardi Trophies and rush for over 10,000 yards.

The Los Angeles Rams spent their No. 13 pick on Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald in 2013. For the next 10 seasons, Donald would cement himself as one of the greatest defensive players the game had ever seen, notching eight first-team All-Pro selections and a record three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.

More recently, Miami selected defensive tackle Christian Wilkins at No. 13 in 2019. Levi Edwards of Raiders.com recently examined some of the league's No. 13 overall picks throughout its history, including Wilkins, who of course, is now a member of the Silver and Black.

"He's totaled 20.5 sacks, 19 pass deflections and over 200 solo tackles in five seasons," Edwards wrote. "Additionally, he ranked in the top seven of all defensive tackles in total pressures (61), double team pressures (18) and sacks (nine) in 2023, according to NFL Next Gen Stats."

For Raiders general manager Tom Telesco, the stakes are high. Our Hondo Carpenter Sr. made it clear what is on the line for the new GM in a recent episode of the "Las Vegas Insider Podcast."

"At some point, Telesco's got to look at [Antonio] Pierce and Pierce got to look at Telesco and say, 'If we do this, is this worth our job?'" Carpenter said.

Many recent mock drafts have had Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. tied to the Silver and Black. Some have Penix as the No. 13 selection. While many can agree Penix has a lot to like, his four season-ending injuries are considered a big red flag.

"People that I trust that are the best quarterback drafters have told me [that] with Penix's injuries, they've got him as a third-rounder," Carpenter said. "Without the injuries, they've told me [he's a] clear first-rounder."

Look at the 1996 NFL Draft as a notable instance of the high-risk, high-reward pick -- and its consequences.

St. Louis Rams general manager Steve Ortmayer (former Raider director of football operations) had the sixth overall pick. He selected Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips -- a high-ceiling talent with well-documented off-the-field issues -- over future All-Pro running back Eddie George and Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens and Zach Thomas.

Phillips would play a total of 35 NFL games in his turbulent career -- which lasted three seasons. Ortmayer was fired -- and never had another general managing job.

If Telesco truly feels a quarterback is what the Raiders need, he might consider waiting and investing in the Raiders' future with a dark horse pick in South Carolina's Spencer Rattler.

The Raiders need to bolster the right side of the offensive line, and an upgrade at corner is necessary, too. Some mocks have the Raiders selecting Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham, while others have the Raiders taking Latham's former teammate, cornerback Terrion Arnold.

Former NFL offensive guard Brian Baldinger believes the Raiders should build a strong foundation before they think about potential quarterbacks.

"When you screw up at quarterback, or you screw up in the first round, your team is not going to be a championship team," Carpenter said.

With April 25 approaching, it is gut-check time for Telesco.

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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