For the Las Vegas Raiders, Saturday is the main event of the NFL Combine.
Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs are scheduled to take the field that day. For the Raiders, they have significant needs at all three positions, so this is the day they build up a significant portion of who ends up on their big board. Impressive performances could stand as the difference on who becomes a Raider in April.
With so much on the line, here are five prospects the Raiders will key in on throughout the day:
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
The Raiders are in on all of the top quarterbacks present at the combine, but Milroe stands as the one with the most to gain with a strong performance.
Milroe was once seen as a first-round prospect in the same vein as Anthony Richardson, but an up-and-down final season at Alabama followed by an inconsistent Senior Bowl caused his stock to crater. With the top two quarterback prospects in Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders already confirmed out of the positional drills, this is the best chance Milroe has to earn some redemption. He is expected to dominate in the athletic drills, but how he performs at his position will go a long way towards putting himself back on track.
There are a few red flags Milroe will have to fight through, particularly with a below-average hand size that was confirmed during measurements at the Senior Bowl. That being said, Milroe can still push his way up draft boards if he shows he can improve his ball security and hit receivers accurately. The Raiders, like many of the other teams, will have no problem keeping him in mind as a Day 2 selection if that turns out to be the case.
Milroe faces heavy scrutiny on Saturday, and teams will be intrigued to see if he rises to the challenge.
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Prospects rarely need to have a good combine to save their draft stock, but Gordon is as close as it gets to that being the case.
Hyped up as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate after a stellar 2023, Gordon subsequently produced a dud in 2024. Gordon’s running yardage was cut almost in half (880 in 2024 compared to 1,730 in 2023), and other running backs in the class took advantage to steal the spotlight away. With his stock in freefall, Gordon comes into the combine needing to prove his struggles were more a product of Oklahoma State’s offensive decline instead of him catching lightning in a bottle in 2023.
Outside of Gordon having to perform well in the drills, his struggles will be a point of contention of teams when they interview him. Teams know about his ability to power through gaps, but now they want to see if there is any more to his game beyond that. Short-yardage hammer backs will always have a role in the NFL, but Gordon proving he can excel in other spots would boost his stock dramatically.
The combine is the ultimate test for Gordon, potentially being the difference between keeping his stock healthy and not getting drafted at all.
DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State
Several running backs have gotten their turn in the national spotlight in the past few months, but Giddens has been left out of the picture for some bizarre reason.
A well-built running back at six-foot-one and 212 pounds, Giddens brings a surprising blend of explosion and versatility to match his natural power. In his last two seasons at Kansas State, Giddens topped 1,200 rushing yards, as well as recording at least 20 receptions and 250 receiving yards. He does not have the top-end speed some NFL teams are looking for, but he makes up for it in various ways.
The combine is the perfect opportunity to show the Raiders and the rest of the NFL the type of player Giddens is. If he shows enough burst during his drills, Giddens can quickly erase the notion that he lacks the athleticism to match his football IQ. Doing so would allow Giddens to push his stock towards Day 2, despite the loaded crowd of running backs and the general lack of value that still haunts the position.
A three-down workhorse is just what the Raiders are looking for, and Giddens can prove he fits the bill with a strong Combine.
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
While the wide receiver crop this year has some questions to answer towards the top, none face the sheer multitude that Harris will have to.
Harris had a tremendous season in 2024, putting up over 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns despite missing four games due to injury. However, offensive players at Ole Miss benefit due to head coach Lane Kiffin’s scheme, only for those advantages to be nullified at the NFL level. Players such as quarterback Matt Corral and wide receivers Elijah Moore and Jonathan Mingo warranted high draft selections due to their gaudy stats in Kiffin’s system, but none of them have found their footing in a pro-style offense yet.
For Harris to prove he can succeed on his own merits, his athletic drills are going to be a major emphasis. Scouts already know about his versatility and contested catch strength, but they want to see if Harris has the speed and agility to separate from opposing defensive backs on his own. His 40-yard dash time, as well as his 10-yard split and agility drill times, will do wonders in keeping him from being labeled as a product of the scheme he played in.
An impressive combine performance should be enough to lock Harris in as a second-round selection, at minimum.
Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
Another former UNLV Rebel (similar to cornerback Nohl Williams, who was highlighted in yesterday’s article), Williams has the opportunity to emerge as one the top sleepers in a deep receiver class.
Williams’ size is a bit of a concern, with his measurements currently listed at five-foot-ten and 182 pounds. That physical profile could limit him to the slot at the NFL level, but Williams has a skillset that earned him plenty of fans in scouting circles. He has plus speed and athleticism like quite a few of his peers, but what sets Williams apart is his exceptional route running; a good pro comparison for Williams is Ladd McConkey, who emerged as a star receiver last season as a second-round rookie of the Los Angeles Chargers.
With Williams considered a plus athlete, scouts are looking to see him perform at a high level during the drills. Showcasing the speed, agility and explosiveness to separate from defensive backs is crucial towards deciding his stock. It is fair to expect him to struggle in terms of blocking, but having that be the only mark against him would be a fantastic day in Indianapolis for the former Cougar.
Putting together a strong showing at the Combine would push Williams into serious consideration for a Day Two selection.
