Raiders Looking to Stack Good Draft Classes

The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping to build back-to-back NFL Draft classes with foundational players in them.

The Las Vegas Raiders put together a solid 2023 NFL Draft class that built the foundation of their future. 

They hope to do that again when the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around at the end of this month. The Raiders could find players who could supplement the core they have already built.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Raiders added two players who played over 600 snaps -- quarterback Aidan O’Connell and tight end Michael Mayer. Three more played more than 300 snaps -- defensive end Tyree Wilson, wide receiver Tre Tucker, and cornerback Jakorian Bennett.

These rookies also saw much more playing time when Raiders coach Antonio Pierce took over midseason. Pierce believed in the young talent, and it resulted in wins.

Some players are considered the Raiders’ core future, while some are quality depth contributors. The Raiders added players at important positions, like quarterback, edge rusher, and wide receiver.

So, how can the Raiders add talent around some of the core they have built? First, there are players in this upcoming draft class who could be foundational as well. The Raiders need to add players at premium positions, and they may do so in this class.

One of the positions they need to address is cornerback, and two who could become franchise cornerstones come to mind. One is Alabama’s Terrion Arnold, who has the athleticism and IQ to be a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL. The other is Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, who plays with a level of competitiveness that Pierce would love. 

The other position the Raiders may address with a high draft pick is right tackle. If the Raiders want to add a right tackle early on, they will have their choice. Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Alabama’s JC Latham, Georgia’s Amarius Mims, and Washington’s Troy Fautanu are all players who could be key additions at right tackle. 

The biggest question mark for the Raiders draft-wise is whether or not they will select a quarterback. If they miss out on the top quarterbacks, they could find a potential franchise quarterback in Oregon’s Bo Nix, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., or South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler. 

The Raiders found players in last year’s draft that will be part of their future for years and could find more players in this year’s draft who could add to that foundation.

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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