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2021 NFL Draft: Scouting the Las Vegas Raiders’ strategy

By Jake Kokoris

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on December 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chargers defeated the Raiders in overtime 30-27. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on December 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chargers defeated the Raiders in overtime 30-27. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Nov 15, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock prior to a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock prior to a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

With the NFL Draft nearly upon us, we decided to take a look at the Las Vegas Raiders’ potential draft strategy.

The Raiders, following an offseason in which they lost they traded their star center and a few other key contributors, have plenty to address in this year’s NFL draft. Specifically, they have glaring needs in the secondary, further needs on the offensive line, and could also use more receiving help.

However, Vegas’ draft strategy may not be limited to pure personnel needs. According to Ian Rapoport, the team has done “extensive work” on the top quarterbacks in the 2021 class. Now, the Raiders pick 17th, which is probably too late for any of the top prospects (Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, Mac Jones) to be available.

The best way to analyze the Raiders’ potential strategy in this years draft would probably be for me to run a sort of mock-draft for the team, and discuss the kind of value each prospective pick could bring to the team. I’ll be using the PFN mock draft simulator to see which players could potentially be available for the Raiders’ first few rounds, and I’ll group up a few players who I think would work for the silver and black.

Even if the simulator gives me some unrealistic options, the point of this is more to discuss the Raiders’ strategy with regards to positional investment.

Round One (No. 17 overall)

Available Players:

In this simulation, the top QBs were off the board, but Vegas still has their pick of some immensely talented prospects who could immediately bolster a position. The Raiders need a lot of help on the right side of their line, and there’s good reason to think Darrisaw or Jenkins could fill in at right tackle, a position where they’re especially weak.

Rashod Bateman would help a receiving core that lost some notable contributors, including Nelson Agholar and Tyrell Williams, and Kwity Paye would be a fascinating addition to a defensive line that includes Yannick Ngakoue and Clelin Ferrell. Newsome would also be a solid pick, the first step in addressing a struggling corner group.

One determining factor, though, is just how interested the Raiders are in landing a QB. If they truly want one of the top 5 QBs, then a trade up feels like the sensible way of ensuring that. And the Raiders *might* have the capital to break into the top ten, but even that would probably require the Raiders’ first and second round draft picks at the bare minimum. The point is, we don’t know just how interested the Raiders are in snagging a top QB.

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