B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders answered their biggest question with Maye. Grade: B-.
by sportelaspgmailcom ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 0 steals
· 3 reaches
The search is over. The Raiders handed the keys to Drake Maye, and the whole operation now runs on his development. No fireworks, but a solid B-.
If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through edge rusher. Reaching for Orhorhoro left real value on the table behind him.
They squeezed a little extra out of every move they made.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a long-term answer under center. A clean fit for the roster.
They paid a round early for Ruke Orhorhoro in Round 2, Pick 21, more than the board wanted. It fills a real need, too.
No edge and no loss on Junior Colson in the 77th pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Nothing to complain about; Jalen McMillan went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jarrian Jones in pick No. 112 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Braelon Allen in the 150th overall pick is fair value, right on his grade. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Christian Jones in slot 190 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Kingsley Eguakun at No. 199 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Fair-plus on Joshua Cephus, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.