Pros, Cons of Best Draft Day Options for the Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders have many options for what to do at the NFL Draft. There are pros and cons to each of their main options.

The Las Vegas Raiders enter this year’s NFL Draft needing to select a player who will have an immediate impact and be with the team long-term.

After choosing the wrong player with most of their first-round draft picks over the last decade, the Raiders must get this right. The good news for the Raiders is they have multiple positions on their roster that need to be addressed, and with the No. 13 pick, they are all but sure to have access to one of the best players available at all of their primary positions of need.

However, some pros and cons come with each of their best draft day choices.

The Raiders' most popular draft day idea has been trading up for LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who played at Arizona State while Raiders coach Antonio Pierce coached there. The apparent pros for selecting Daniels would be the arm talent and mobility he brings to the table. He would be able to jumpstart the Raiders' offense in ways that Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew may not be able to.

The biggest cons of drafting Daniels would be the cost of trading up to get him. The Raiders would have to trade more draft capital than they can afford to have the chance at drafting Daniels. Giving up the required draft pick for Daniels would only heighten the other holes on their team, as they would have fewer draft picks at their disposal.

Not to mention, trading the necessary draft picks away to get Daniels only adds to the pressure of being one of the top quarterbacks drafted. 

The Raiders could keep the No. 13 pick and select a cornerback or an offensive lineman or draft one of the other talented quarterbacks still available. If they were to stay at No. 13, it seems unlikely they would draft a quarterback and lean towards adding a cornerback or offensive lineman. Adding talent to the two position groups has similar pros, as the Raiders need more depth at cornerback and offensive line.

The Raiders adding an offensive lineman or cornerback wouldn't have many cons, as both are arguably their most significant positions of need this offseason. 

Lastly, one of the best scenarios for the Raiders would be for the top cornerbacks and offensive linemen to fall in the draft, allowing them to trade back. The pros of this scenario would be the Raiders accumulating more picks and still drafting one of the best cornerbacks or offensive linemen available. This move would have the most value for the Raiders.

However, trading back comes with the risk of the Raiders losing out on players high on their draft board. The Raiders have plenty of options in the draft, and time will tell what direction they decide to take.

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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