With eleven picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders are clearly interested in underseeing a youth movement under head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek. The name of the game was attacking specific needs, with the Raiders not being afraid to double or even triple-dip at certain positions. What the Raiders came away with was a talented group of prospects set to help them both now and in the future. With a better sense of who was available at the time, we are now able to see what the Raiders’ plan was, and how it stacked up to the rest of the league. So how did the Raiders fare in the Carroll-Spytek regime’s first draft? Let us go through the new recruits pick-by-pick: Round 1, Pick 6: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State Despite rumors of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears taking Jeanty from under their noses, the Raiders ended up with the prospect they clearly liked the most. Between the high pick and the absurd level of talent Jeanty has, he is expected to serve as the lead back out of the box. Boasting elite contact balance to churn out tough yardage along with the explosiveness to make the big play, Jeanty also has some untapped receiving potential worth exploring. After years of watching LaDainian Tomlinson torture the Raiders as a member of the San Diego Chargers, those same fans must be elated with having their version of the Hall of Fame running back. First-round running backs are rarely a good idea, and how the Raiders build around Jeanty will ultimately dictate how good he is at the next level. However, no one can fault them for going with their guy. Round 2, Pick 58: Jack Bech, WR, TCU Trading down twice in the second round paid dividends for the Raiders, who still managed to come out with a solid prospect at a position of need in Bech. While lacking the elite athletic profile that higher-drafted receivers had, Bech’s skillset is something the Raiders lacked in their lineup. A pro-ready big slot receiver, Bech’s route running and good hands should allow him to find space on the field and move the chains. Likely the third option in the passing game behind Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, expect quarterback Geno Smith to turn to Bech for jump-ball situations, as well as look to him as a major red-zone presence. The Raiders might have been able to sneak Bech in the third and land a quality cornerback here but, with how well-documented the team’s need for more weapons was, he was a good prospect to jump on now. Round 3, Pick 68: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State With Carroll-approved dimensions for a defensive back and athleticism that would make the late Al Davis smile, Porter was practically destined to become a Raider. Standing at six-foot-three and running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine, Porter possesses a size-speed package that NFL scouts salivate over. His time as a receiver gives him considerable ball skills as a cornerback, and his willingness to play on special teams gives him a higher floor than suggested. However, Porter’s lack of experience at the position means he is far from a finished product, and both he and the Raiders could be in for a rude awakening if they push him against top competition too early. Depending on how quickly Carroll and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham get Porter up to NFL speed, this medium-risk, high-reward gamble could pay off in spades for the Raiders. Round 3, Pick 98: Caleb Rogers, IOL, Texas Tech With the Raiders already confirmed to holding competitions on the interior offensive line, Rogers now throws his hat in the ring. Despite playing at right tackle at Texas Tech, his lack of length and lighter frame likely mean his NFL future is on the interior. With good positional versatility and run-blocking ability, Rogers was likely drafted with Jeanty in mind. Expect Rogers to serve as a backup in his rookie season, filling in at guard or even returning to right tackle if injuries begin to mount. Every report suggests Rogers is good depth and a great locker room presence, and championship teams need those types of players. It is just fair to wonder if this was a round too early. Round 3, Pick 99: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary If Rogers was drafted as the steady-albeit-unspectacular option, Grant is the equivalent of the Raiders swinging for the fences. Grant has the traits to suggest he can develop into an elite pass protector at the NFL level, but his small-school background suggests that it will take some time to reach that ceiling. It is likely that Grant starts out as the designated swing tackle in his rookie season, but left tackle Kolton Miller’s unsettled contract issue opens a path for significant playing time early on. Even if the experiment does not pan out, Grant has the skill set to swing over to guard without hassle. This pick will definitely be an exercise in patience, but the rewards attached to it are too good to not take the chance on. Round 4, Pick 108: Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee If Bech is the technician operating from the slot, Thornton has the potential to emerge as the outside burner. The only three receivers to stand six-foot-five and run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash time are Thornton, Calvin Johnson, and DK Metcalf. That is some elite company to have, and there is reason to believe Thornton is only scratching the surface of his potential. The Raiders might keep him stashed away during his rookie season as a strict vertical threat, all while allowing him to expand his route tree and making plays outside of torching bad coverages. Thornton will take more work than his SEC pedigree suggests, but elite athletic gifts are the name of the game at this point. A solid option for a flier. Round 4, Pick 135: Tonka Hemingway, DT, South Carolina Defensive line depth was tested due to injuries last season, so drafting Hemingway goes a long way towards remedying that problem for the Raiders. Hemingway is a bit undersized as a full-time defensive tackle, suggesting he could kick to the outside in certain defensive sets. However, his movement is some of the best at the position, and he has the versatile skillset to do whatever is asked of him. The Raiders might keep him as a strict pass-rushing specialist as they decide on his full-time spot in the NFL, but it is nice to have that added security and depth. Hemingway does have the risk of ending up as a tweener with no set role in the NFL, but contributing positively to the pass rush early on in his career will make it easier for him to find playing time. Round 6, Pick 180: JJ Pegues, DT/FB, Ole Miss Outside of obviously Jeanty, the most fun player to watch in their rookie season might end up being Pegues. Pegues has some good play strength and versatility to work with, but the question is whether or not the Raiders needed another defensive lineman in an already-crowded room. However, where Pegues might get a leg up on the roster is due to his ability to contribute on offense. Running for seven touchdowns last season, Pegues is a candidate to provide the Raiders with ‘big man moments’ as a short-yardage hammer back. Getting Pegues some reps at fullback might be a good idea early on, allowing the Raiders to let him see the field as they develop him for a role at his more natural position on the defensive line. Round 6, Pick 213: Tommy Mellott, QB/WR, Montana State Mellott was a difficult grade, in large part because the position he played in college is definitely not going to be in his NFL future. It was clear Mellott did not possess the size or arm talent to stick as an NFL quarterback, but NFL scouts know better than to waste a 4.39-second 40-yard dash time and 41-inch vertical. The Raiders have already admitted as such, with his transition to receiver a certainty. Mellott will end up behind a suddenly-crowded receiver room, but the speed and explosiveness suggests he is a candidate for return duties to let him see the field as he learns his new position. It is hard to judge this pick too harshly, given Mellott’s traits and how fun it would be for a new generation of fans to have a Julian Edelman clone. That said, even for a team in need of receivers, three might have ended up being a tad overkill. Round 6, Pick 215: Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State Unlike his fellow FCS quarterback, Miller is expected to stay at his normal position in the NFL. Coming out of powerhouse program North Dakota State, Miller knows what it takes to win and has the intangibles to be a leader. He does not have the pure arm talent that wows scouts, but his decision-making is strong with four years of starting experience already under his belt. Miller will almost certainly serve as a third-string quarterback behind Smith and Aidan O’Connell as the Raiders think of him as a potential long-term backup and spot starter. Miller is more O’Connell than Smith at this stage of his career but, given O’Connell has been the best quarterback on the Raiders over the last couple of seasons, that might not be a bad thing as he develops. Round 7, Pick 222: Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota Linebacker depth was gutted from free agency, but there is a chance they found a future starter and seventh-round gem in Lindenberg. Standing six-foot-two, Lindenberg barely meets the prototypical size requirements of a modern NFL linebacker, and he possesses some decent tools in tackling and coverage. The Raiders have also alluded to him being involved on special teams as well, so he will get the opportunity to prove himself as a gunner on those units. Even if Lindenberg does not quite develop as a consistent linebacker, emerging as a quality option against returns would provide for excellent return on value. Consider me higher on this pick than most, even if linebacker is a need that probably should have been addressed earlier.