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The 2025 NFL draft is almost here and it represents a great opportunity for new Raiders general manager John Spytek to continue reshaping this roster into a winner.
Las Vegas owns the No. 6 overall selection where Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty should be a possibility if that's the direction the Raiders want to head in. Whether it's Jeanty or a different direction entirely for the Raiders at No. 6, Las Vegas needs its first-round selection to be a hit.
But, the NFL draft success can't stop there for the Raiders either. After a 4-13 finish last season, Las Vegas needs to make the most of its nine selections in this upcoming draft to construct a roster that can compete right away for first-year head coach Pete Carroll.
Here's a look at five second-round selections that could make a lot of sense for the Raiders in the 2025 NFL draft with pick No. 37:
If the Raiders don't scoop up Jeanty with their first-round selection, the franchise still needs to find a star in the backfield. Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson could be that answer for Las Vegas.
The 6-foot-1, 224 pound back enjoyed a breakout 2024 with the Hawkeyes in which he carried 240 times for 1,537 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Johnson also caught 22 passes for 188 yards and a pair of scores, including a 72-yard score against Nebraska where he bounced off multiple Huskers before racing in for the touchdown.
Johnson would add a home run threat to the Raiders backfield to complement recently acquired Raheem Mostert.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan visited with the Raiders brass and could be in play at No. 6 for Las Vegas. But, assuming the Raiders look elsewhere at No. 6, finding a wide receiver early in this draft should still be a priority.
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III would inject some much-needed speed and explosion into the Raiders' group of wide receivers. Burden ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
The 6-foot, 206 pound receiver reeled in 66 grabs for 676 yards and six scores last season with the Tigers. Burden was even better in 2023 when he caught 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Raiders have a need in the defensive backfield after the departures of Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones.
Florida State's Azareye'h Thomas is currently ranked as ESPN's No. 5 cornerback and No. 29 overall prospect in this 2025 draft class. With the Raiders lurking at pick No. 37, Thomas could slip right into Las Vegas' waiting arms.
Thomas ended his career with the Seminoles with 95 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-1, 197 pound corner would be a great addition to the Raiders' secondary.
Philadelphia's Super Bowl triumph was a case study in a simple football truth: Championships are oftentimes won up front in the trenches.
While there might be larger areas of positional need elsewhere, what Las Vegas fan would be upset about beefing up the Raiders' defensive interior?
Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant was a third-team AP All-American last season and a second-team All-Big Ten choice each of the past two years. The 6-foot-4, 331 pound defensive tackle totaled 61 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, 6.5 sacks and one interception over the last two seasons with the maize and blue.
Along the same lines of thinking, should Las Vegas look at North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel? The Raiders' run game was last in the NFL last season and it wasn't just because they were without a star running back.
Las Vegas' offensive line could use a cog like Zabel to build around and to help morph its rushing attack. A 6-foot-6, 312 pound offensive lineman, Zabel turned heads at the Senior Bowl. Zabel would offer versatility to the Raiders as he started at left tackle, right tackle, left guard and right guard during his collegiate career.
The Pierre, S.D., product also worked at center during the Senior Bowl practices and was an FCS first-team All-American last season.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 2025 NFL Draft: 5 second-round targets that make sense for Raiders
Continue reading...
Las Vegas owns the No. 6 overall selection where Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty should be a possibility if that's the direction the Raiders want to head in. Whether it's Jeanty or a different direction entirely for the Raiders at No. 6, Las Vegas needs its first-round selection to be a hit.
But, the NFL draft success can't stop there for the Raiders either. After a 4-13 finish last season, Las Vegas needs to make the most of its nine selections in this upcoming draft to construct a roster that can compete right away for first-year head coach Pete Carroll.
Here's a look at five second-round selections that could make a lot of sense for the Raiders in the 2025 NFL draft with pick No. 37:
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
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If the Raiders don't scoop up Jeanty with their first-round selection, the franchise still needs to find a star in the backfield. Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson could be that answer for Las Vegas.
The 6-foot-1, 224 pound back enjoyed a breakout 2024 with the Hawkeyes in which he carried 240 times for 1,537 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Johnson also caught 22 passes for 188 yards and a pair of scores, including a 72-yard score against Nebraska where he bounced off multiple Huskers before racing in for the touchdown.
Johnson would add a home run threat to the Raiders backfield to complement recently acquired Raheem Mostert.
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
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Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan visited with the Raiders brass and could be in play at No. 6 for Las Vegas. But, assuming the Raiders look elsewhere at No. 6, finding a wide receiver early in this draft should still be a priority.
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III would inject some much-needed speed and explosion into the Raiders' group of wide receivers. Burden ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
The 6-foot, 206 pound receiver reeled in 66 grabs for 676 yards and six scores last season with the Tigers. Burden was even better in 2023 when he caught 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns.
Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
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The Raiders have a need in the defensive backfield after the departures of Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones.
Florida State's Azareye'h Thomas is currently ranked as ESPN's No. 5 cornerback and No. 29 overall prospect in this 2025 draft class. With the Raiders lurking at pick No. 37, Thomas could slip right into Las Vegas' waiting arms.
Thomas ended his career with the Seminoles with 95 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-1, 197 pound corner would be a great addition to the Raiders' secondary.
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
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Philadelphia's Super Bowl triumph was a case study in a simple football truth: Championships are oftentimes won up front in the trenches.
While there might be larger areas of positional need elsewhere, what Las Vegas fan would be upset about beefing up the Raiders' defensive interior?
Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant was a third-team AP All-American last season and a second-team All-Big Ten choice each of the past two years. The 6-foot-4, 331 pound defensive tackle totaled 61 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, 6.5 sacks and one interception over the last two seasons with the maize and blue.
Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota State
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Along the same lines of thinking, should Las Vegas look at North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel? The Raiders' run game was last in the NFL last season and it wasn't just because they were without a star running back.
Las Vegas' offensive line could use a cog like Zabel to build around and to help morph its rushing attack. A 6-foot-6, 312 pound offensive lineman, Zabel turned heads at the Senior Bowl. Zabel would offer versatility to the Raiders as he started at left tackle, right tackle, left guard and right guard during his collegiate career.
The Pierre, S.D., product also worked at center during the Senior Bowl practices and was an FCS first-team All-American last season.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 2025 NFL Draft: 5 second-round targets that make sense for Raiders
Continue reading...
