The Las Vegas Raiders 2025 NFL draft is going to be a significant one. The Raiders rebuild is underway and after a bustling off-season the franchise could take the 2025 draft in one of a few directions. These are the Las Vegas Raiders draft needs and a few scenarios worth keeping an eye on as the event approaches.
Newly appointed General Manager John Spytek will be keen to make a significant impact in his first draft in charge. With the 6th pick in the first round, the Raiders are going to have the opportunity to draft a real game-changer, and if they get it right the teams momentum could take flight.
Las Vegas Raiders 2025 NFL Draft team needs
The Raiders have multiple needs heading into the draft, but there’s a couple of glaring gaps to fill in the current roster.
Running Back
Vegas’ mishandling of their running back situation devastated their season offensively in 2024. Their lead rusher Alex Mattison posted 420 rushing yards on the season, with a team-leading four rushing touchdowns. Zamir White was expected to be the franchise starter, but that buzz quickly fell away and the Raiders found themselves struggling desperately at the position.
The Raiders ranked 32nd in yards per rush (3.6), rushing yards per game (79.8) and as a result finished 30th in the NFL in third down conversions (34.8%), and rushing touchdowns per game (0.6).
Wide Receiver
The addition of Brock Bowers is going to be one of the best decisions the Raiders organization has made in a very long time. He led all tight ends in receptions and receiving yards as a rookie, and was voted a First-Team All Pro in his very first year as a pro.
Now the Raiders need to find another piece to add to their passing game. Jakobi Meyers has proven to be exceptionally consistent as an NFL receiver, but outside of his experience Las Vegas have very little talent to target.
Cornerback
While the defensive front features some of the leagues brightest stars, the Raiders secondary is a completely different story. Head Coach Pete Carroll once led the infamous Legion of Boom to a Super Bowl title, and it should have been two.
That secondary featuring Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas III and company is one of the best the NFL has ever seen, and a stark contrast to what the Raiders currently have on the roster. It’s time to add elite talent to the group, particularly at corner.
Las Vegas Raiders 2025 draft strategy
Here are three first-round draft picks the Raiders could make come Thursday 24th April.
Ashton Jeanty – Running back, Boise State
Ashton Jeanty was a top two candidate for the Heisman Trophy in 2024, destroying every opponent he faced at Boise State. The only knock anybody has been able to put on him is the level of competition he faced while putting up those electrifying numbers.
Jeanty had nine touchdowns through the first two games of the 2024 season. That isn’t a typo. Nine touchdowns. Two games.
The Boise State stud finished the season with 2,595 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns. He ran for over 200 yards in a game six times. But perhaps most importantly, Jeanty carried the football a stunning 375 times.
The Las Vegas Raiders front office NEEDS to find a franchise running back in the 2025 NFL draft. Some believe drafting Ashton Jeanty at six would be a mistake. Those folks are wrong.
Armand Membou – Offensive tackle, missouri
Armand Membou has shot up boards over the past few months, and is now expected to be one of the top draft picks in the 2025 class.
He’s a two year starter at right tackle for the Missouri Tigers, and the development from the 2023 season into 2024 was really impressive. Some feel he may be better suited to playing guard in the NFL, he’s a little undersized for a pro-level tackle but his technique, strength and aggression as a blocker might be the best in the class.
Membou will be a downhill mauler in the run game, with a strong anchor and elite hands as a stand up pass blocker. He feels like a home run selection for whichever team lands him, even if that’s to kick in to guard early in his pro career.
For the Raiders, it might not be the most glamorous pick, but it’s a pick worth making with their long term future in mind. Given the amount of exceptional running backs in the 2025 NFL draft, the Raiders could opt to go tackle in the first round before dipping back in for their fanchise running back in the mid rounds.
Shedeur sanders – quarterback, colorado
I left this one until last on purpose, because a lot of things have to happen for the Raiders to even have the chance to draft Shedeur Sanders.
Obviously, this pick sets the tone for a long term vision. I would argue that there’s no need for the Raiders to feature Shedeur Sanders until the last couple of weeks of the season, and only then if they’re not in the playoff race.
On the off-chance that the Cleveland Browns pass on Sanders, and then the New York Giants do the same, the Raiders could be left with a very complex choice to make. As long as no other team jumps them to take the Colorado quarterback, Las Vegas would have to decide on drafting a franchise running back or offensive linemen, or take the quarterback that multiple other teams have now passed on.
It does feel like there’s a scenario that would almost force the Raiders hand. Yes they handed Geno Smith a new contract after trading for him earlier in the year, but if they like Shedeur Sanders, and they don’t have to give up a dime to get him, could you excuse them passing at six?
The only caveat to that is the option to select somebody like Jalen Milroe or Jaxson Dart a little later in the draft process.
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