Las Vegas Raiders Build Up Future With 2025 Draft
- Jose Rocha
- Apr 29
- 3 min read
The Las Vegas Raiders selected 11 players in the 2025 NFL Draft, focusing heavily on bolstering their offense while adding key defensive pieces. Here’s a concise recap of their draft class:
Round 1, Pick 6: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Raiders grabbed the Heisman Trophy runner-up, a dynamic running back with 2,601 rushing yards in 2024, to anchor their run-heavy offense under coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Jeanty is expected to compete for the starting role immediately. With the Raiders having poor stats in rushing last year we have seen where the Raiders can be with a dependable running game and it's an area that they addressed.
Round 2, Pick 58: Jack Bech, WR, TCU
A physical, contested-catch receiver (6’1”, 215 lbs), Bech adds depth and complements the Raiders’ receiving corps, including Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers. He’s a reliable target for quarterback Geno Smith.
Round 3, Pick 68: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Porter, a tall (6’3”) corner with 4.30 speed, fits Carroll’s defensive scheme. His limited experience (one-year starter) is offset by his size, speed, and special teams potential.
Round 3, Pick 98: Caleb Rogers, G, Texas Tech
A versatile lineman with 55 consecutive starts, Rogers projects as a guard, adding depth and competition to the interior offensive line.
Round 3, Pick 99: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
The Raiders needed to address possibilities on the offensive line, as they made back-to-back offensive line selections. Grant, a long-armed tackle (34¾”) with FCS experience. Grant is a considered developmental prospect, by others, with starter potential if coached up.
Round 4, Pick 108: Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee
A speedster (4.30 40-yard dash), Thornton brings vertical threat and explosiveness to the receiver room, addressing a key need.
Round 4, Pick 135: Tonka Hemingway, DT, South Carolina
A versatile defensive tackle with experience as a short-yardage fullback, Hemingway adds depth to the defensive line rotation.
Round 5, Pick 180: JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
Pegues, a versatile weapon who played both offense and defense in college, bolsters the defensive front with his size and athleticism.
Round 6, Pick 213: Tommy Mellott, QB/WR, Montana State
A two-time FCS National Champion quarterback transitioning to receiver, Mellott’s versatility and athleticism make him an intriguing late-round pick. Others around the league are comparing Mellott to Julian Edelman.
Round 6, Pick 215: Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State
Another FCS standout, Miller, a Walter Payton Award winner, adds quarterback depth with his championship pedigree.
Round 7, Pick 222: Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota
A two-time First-Team All-Big Ten linebacker and team captain, Lindenberg is likely a special teams contributor with leadership qualities.
The Raiders prioritized offense (seven picks) in this draft, particularly at running back, wide receiver, and offensive line, to support Geno Smith and build around young stars like Brock Bowers. Defensively, they added a high-upside corner and three linemen to improve depth. The defensive side of the ball is still an area I think they address, but the team looks set moving into the last stages of the off-season. The class earned high marks from analysts across the league for addressing needs and adding talent, with Jeanty as the centerpiece. The Las Vegas Raiders still have the second most cap space post draft and it looks like they are in position to make a move to continue to add to the team and I fully expect it to be addressing on the defensive side of the ball.
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