AFC West rival comps: Grading the Las Vegas Raiders draft class

The Las Vegas Raiders made a few impactful changes in free agency to better their 2022 season. But, how good was their draft class? In the final installment of the AFC West Comparisons, that is what we will explore.

The Las Vegas Raiders made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth this past season, beating the L.A. Chargers in the final seconds of overtime in Week 17 to secure their spot. However, in their Wild Card game against the Bengals, a few bad calls and a late-game interception ended their season.

In free agency, the Raiders traded a first and second-round pick for Packers WR Davante Adams, as well as signed Cardinals EDGE Chandler Jones. Adams and Renfrow will make for a good wide receiver tandem, and their run threat with Joshua Jacobs and Kenyan Drake is solid. But what’s really scary about the Raiders is their pass rush. Even with how good the AFC West is, Maxx Crosby and Jones will get the job done and do it well.

However, there were still holes to fill on the roster. So, how did the Raiders improve in the draft? Let’s find out.

(Don’t miss our other AFC West draft grades for the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.)

ROUND 1

The Las Vegas Raiders did not make a first-round selection.

ROUND 2

The Las Vegas Raiders did not make a second-round selection.

ROUND 3

Pick 90- Dylan Parham, G, Memphis

For what it is, this pick was great. Interior offensive line was a position of need for the Raiders. Should they have had an earlier pick, I think they should’ve grabbed a better guard because Parham isn’t exactly the most impressive one out there. But, like I said, for the round, this was the best guard they could’ve picked up. Grade: B+

ROUND 4

Pick 122- Zamir White, RB, Georgia

I get it. Josh Jacobs is severely injury prone and Kenyan Drake is getting old. Neither is very good. But, RB was nowhere near as big a need as WR still is. They picked up two in UDFA, but they could’ve had Calvin Austin at this pick. Yes, they have Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. But who else? Demarcus Robinson? Grade: C-

Pick 126- Neil Farrell, DT, LSU

DT was a position of need for the Raiders. Not desperate, but they needed depth. Farrell wasn’t elite at LSU, but he got the job done. He was also one of the better DTs available, so there isn’t much to complain about with this pick. Grade: A

ROUND 5

Pick 175- Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee

Honestly, the Raiders should’ve picked Kingsley Enagbare with this pick. They could use some LB/EDGE help and he was right there for them. Sure, Matthew Butler is better than Neil Farrell, but if they wanted Butler over Farrell, they should have taken him at 126. No reason to double up on the same position with back-to-back picks if it’s not a huge position of need. Grade: C-

ROUND 6

The Las Vegas Raiders did not make a sixth-round selection.

ROUND 7

Pick 238- Thayer Munford Jr., OT, Ohio State

I absolutely love this pick for the Raiders. When they made this pick, I thought to myself “They got themselves a good lineman in Munford.” Because they did. He played guard in 2021, but his best position is tackle. Given some time to develop, be will be a plus starter on the line for the silver and black. I’m very surprised he didn’t go before the 7th. Grade: A+

Pick 250- Brittain Brown, RB, UCLA

Uh… what? Sure, a pick this late is just grabbing whoever’s available. But again, they did not need an RB. This just makes zero sense to me. The NFL didn’t even give him a grade on their prospect board. They made the claim that he “likely needs time in a developmental league.” This just makes absolutely no sense to me. Grade: F

OVERALL DRAFT GRADE

I have a feeling that the Raiders would have done better in this draft if they had more early-round picks. However, they didn’t make the best of what they were given. They easily had the worst draft of the AFC West. Grade C-