Mock draft season is officially under way for the Las Vegas Raiders.
With the Raiders losing to the Chargers on Sunday, as well as the New York Jets defeating the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders officially hold the sixth overall pick in April’s draft.
The Raiders have all of their original picks, as well as the third-round pick they received from the Jets in the Davante Adams trade in October. They are also expected to pick up two compensatory picks in the sixth round for Bilal Nichols and Amik Robertson, according to Over The Cap.
While the 4-13 season revealed the significant holes on the Raiders’ roster, there are some things to build off of. In particular, the Raiders can build off of a strong draft last year and bolster their talent to prepare for any quarterback changes.
The Raiders landed three starters in the 2024 Draft, headlined by tight end Brock Bowers, who lead all tight ends in receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,194). Joining Bowers was veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who enjoyed a career year in Las Vegas with his first 1,000-yard season.
Regardless of who is in at quarterback for the Raiders in 2025, the team has at least some of the necessary infrastructure in place to assist in their development.
In a three-round mock draft for the Raiders, The Sporting News’ Dharya Sharma came up with a clear plan to continue building the team, starting with drafting Arizona star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the sixth pick.
“McMillan is the most explosive and dynamic wide receiver in this year’s draft class, as the 21-year-old averaged 15.7 yards per catch in 2024 and also hauled in 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns,” wrote Sharma.
“Jakobi Meyers had a solid season despite the atrocious quarterback situation, as the veteran posted 87 catches for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns this year. Pairing Meyers with McMillan would give Las Vegas a versatile wide receiver duo and a nice set of offensive playmakers for the quarterback we’re about to take next.”
McMillan stands out as an athletic marvel, combining a six-foot-five frame with superior strength and agility. He can be deployed from almost any offensive alignment and create mismatches against opposing defensive backs, which will make life easy for offensive coordinators and quarterbacks alike.
If the Raiders draft McMillan to pair him with Bowers and Meyers, that is three reliable receiving options for the Raiders to build around for 2025.
As for the quarterback Sharma mentions, he selects a long-term option for the Raiders with their second-round selection in Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.
“Milroe is an eye-opening athlete who is arguably the best dual-threat signal caller in the draft,” explained Sharma.
“The 22-year-old is an incredibly raw prospect who needs some development, but Milroe has the potential to be a franchise quarterback at the next level. The Raiders should take a flyer on the Texas native in the second round if they can’t land a quarterback in Round 1.”
Milroe has premier athleticism that shines through in both the running and passing games, but his tape against the likes of Oklahoma and Michigan this year highlighted his current inconsistencies. Unlike top prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, Milroe will certainly need time on the bench to develop and get up to NFL speed.
That being said, Milroe boasts one of the highest ceilings in the quarterback crop this year, so proper development could yield high rewards. With the talented receiving corps the Raiders have, the team can rely on Aidan O’Connell or a free agent bridge quarterback for 2025 before turning the keys over to the uber-talented Milroe.
Adding McMillan and Milroe to an offense that already boasts top talent would put the offense on the right path. If the team grows together under the right offensive coordinator, Raiders fans could witness an explosive offense rivaling their AFC West foes soon enough.
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