Articles by Adam Hill

The Raiders are set to pick sixth in the 2025 NFL draft, which begins Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The team, if it holds onto the pick, will make a selection inside the top 10 for the 21st time in franchise history and the first time since 2023.
Here are all the Raiders’ previous top-10 picks and how each player panned out:
Joe Rutgens, DT, Illinois (Fifth overall, 1961)
The Raiders selected Rutgens in the AFL draft, but he spurned them to sign with the Redskins, who selected him with the third pick in the NFL draft.
He went on to record 40 sacks and make two Pro Bowls in nine seasons with Washington.
Roman Gabriel, QB, North Carolina State (First overall, 1962)
Gabriel was another top selection that chose the NFL over the AFL. He joined the Rams after being picked second overall in the NFL draft.
Gabriel went on to make four Pro Bowls and was the NFL’s MVP in 1969. He threw 201 touchdowns in 16 seasons with the Rams and Eagles.
Tony Lorick, RB, Arizona State (Seventh overall, 1964)
Lorick, like Rutgens and Gabriel before him, chose the NFL after being picked in the second round by the Colts. He ran for 2,124 yards and 14 touchdowns in six seasons with Baltimore and New Orleans.
Harry Schuh, OT, Memphis (Third overall, 1965)
The Raiders finally kept one of their picks with Schuh, who became a stalwart right tackle for six seasons.
He made three Pro Bowls over that span and was named a first-team All Pro in 1969. He finished his career with the Rams and Packers.
Marcus Allen, RB, USC (10th overall, 1982)
The Raiders made their first top-10 pick in 17 years count.
Allen began his Hall of Fame career with the Raiders, totaling 8,545 rushing yards and 79 rushing touchdowns in 11 seasons. He was also the MVP of Super Bowl 18.
Tim Brown, WR, Notre Dame (Sixth overall, 1988)
Brown became the second straight Raiders top-10 pick to reach the Hall of Fame. He made nine Pro Bowls with the team and hauled in 1,070 passes for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns in 16 seasons.
Terry McDaniel, DB, Tennessee (Ninth overall, 1988)
The Raiders, three picks after taking Brown, added another productive player. McDaniel made five Pro Bowls and had 34 interceptions during his 10 years with the organization.
Rickey Dudley, TE, Ohio State (Ninth overall, 1996)
Dudley had five productive seasons in Oakland, but ended up beating the Raiders as a member of the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 37.
Dudley finished his nine-year career with 221 catches for 3,024 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Darrell Russell, DT, USC (Second overall, 1997)
Russell’s promising career was cut short after a series of positive drug tests led to multiple suspensions. He finished with 28½ sacks in 83 games and made two Pro Bowls.
Russell was killed in an auto accident in 2005 at age 29.
Charles Woodson, DB, Michigan (Fourth overall, 1998)
Woodson was another Hall of Famer the Raiders snagged early in the draft. He won defensive rookie of the year in 1998 and made the Pro Bowl each of his first four seasons.
Woodson finished with 65 interceptions over his 18-year career, which included two stints with the Raiders.
Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa (Second overall, 2004)
Gallery appeared in 92 games for the Raiders in seven seasons, bouncing between right tackle, left tackle and left guard.
He was steady throughout his career, but never lived up to the immense expectations placed on him.
Michael Huff, DB, Texas (Seventh overall, 2006)
Huff played 108 games for the Raiders over seven seasons and was named a second-team All Pro in 2010. He finished with 11 interceptions during his time with the franchise.
Huff ended his career with brief stints in Baltimore and Denver.
JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU (First overall, 2007)
Russell is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history.
He was 7-18 as a starter over three seasons, completed just 52.1 percent of his passes and threw 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Russell threw three touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2009, his final season in the NFL.
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (Fourth overall, 2008)
McFadden played 103 games over 10 seasons with the Raiders and Cowboys, rushing for 5,421 yards and 28 touchdowns.
He also caught 254 passes for 2,114 yards and five touchdowns in his career.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland (Seventh overall, 2009)
Heyward-Bey caught 140 passes for 2,071 yards and 11 touchdowns his four seasons with the Raiders. The speedster moved on afterward to play for the Colts and the Steelers.
Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama (Eighth overall, 2010)
McClain had 407 tackles over five seasons with the Raiders and Cowboys.
The Raiders waived him after three seasons due to a series of incidents on and off the field, which led McClain to announce his retirement at age 23.
He returned to the NFL with the Cowboys after a season away from the game and finished runner-up for comeback player of the year in 2014. McClain played just one more season before a series of drug-related suspensions ended his career.
Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo (Fifth overall, 2014)
Mack was part of a notable draft class for the Raiders that also included quarterback Derek Carr.
Mack started all 64 games he played for the team the next four years. He had 40½ sacks, three Pro Bowl appearances and a defensive player of the year award in that span before being dealt to the Bears in 2018 during a contract dispute.
Mack is still in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl last season with the Chargers.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama (Fourth overall, 2015)
Cooper finished third in the rookie of the year voting in 2015 and made three Pro Bowls his first four seasons. He was later traded to Dallas midway through the 2018 season.
Cooper finished his time with the Raiders with 225 catches for 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns. He played for the Browns and Bills last season.
Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson (Fourth overall, 2019)
Ferrell had 10 sacks in four seasons with the Raiders. He played for the Commanders last year and finished with 3½ sacks.
Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech (Seventh overall, 2023)
Wilson’s career got off to a slow start because he needed time to recover from a foot injury he suffered in college. He has eight sacks and 56 tackles in two NFL seasons.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

It’s the time of the year when fans can dream of a bright future for their favorite team thanks to a new batch of young prospects from the draft.
Few of those dreams have come true for the Raiders recently.
The team has had some bright spots, but its successes have been overshadowed by plenty of disappointments. The Raiders hope things are different this time around with new general manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll in charge for this year’s draft, which begins Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Spytek and Carroll inherited a club that could use some immediate contributors after some high picks didn’t pan out. Here’s an overview of how the Raiders have done their last four drafts:
2021
This class didn’t get off to a great start.
The Raiders selected Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood with the 17th overall pick, but he was cut in training camp before his second season. He is currently unsigned.

The rest of the group — which was put together by then-general manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden — fared much better.
Safety Tre’von Moehrig, the Raiders’ second-round pick, started 64 games over his four seasons with the team and signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Panthers in March.
Defensive end Malcolm Koonce, a third-round pick, had eight sacks his third season but missed all of 2024 with a knee injury. He signed a one-year, $12 million contract to return to the Raiders in March.
The team’s other third-round pick, linebacker Divine Deablo, spent four years in Las Vegas before signing a two-year, $14 million deal with the Falcons this offseason.
Fifth-round cornerback Nate Hobbs was a gem. He started 38 games over his four seasons with the Raiders before signing a four-year, $48 million contract with the Packers in March.
The team’s other picks in the 2021 draft didn’t contribute as much. Fourth-round safety Tyree Gillespie was traded after one year. Seventh-round center Jimmy Morrissey started his rookie season on the practice squad but was later poached by the Texans.
2022
This draft was former general manager Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels’ first with the Raiders. They moved their first- and second-round picks as part of the trade package for star wide receiver Davante Adams.
The Raiders used their third-round pick on offensive lineman Dylan Parham, who has been a steady presence for three seasons.
The Raiders then took running back Zamir White in the fourth round. He’s flashed some in his limited opportunities, but he disappointed in 2024 when he was given the chance to become the team’s top ball carrier.
Fourth-round pick Neil Farrell appeared in seven games as a rookie, but the defensive tackle was traded to the Chiefs in 2023.
Fifth-round pick Matthew Butler, another defensive tackle, has developed into a solid role player for the Raiders. He has appeared in 15 games the last three years.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr., a seventh-round pick, has started 18 of the 46 games he’s played for the Raiders over the past three seasons. He remains with the team.
The Raiders’ other seventh-round pick, running back Brittain Brown, played in six games as a rookie before missing all of the 2023 campaign with an injury. He spent last year on the Seahawks’ practice squad.
2023
Ziegler and McDaniels began their second and final draft with the Raiders by selecting defensive end Tyree Wilson with the seventh overall pick.
Wilson has been frustrating at times and has just eight sacks his first 33 games. Still, the Raiders hope he can take another step his third season.
Tight end Michael Mayer, the team’s second-round pick, has 48 catches for 460 yards so far in his career. He missed six games last year for personal reasons.
Wide receiver Tre Tucker has been a solid contributor as a third-round pick, with 66 catches for 870 yards through two seasons. Fourth-round cornerback Jakorian Bennett was another solid find and has emerged as a starter.
The Raiders’ other third-round pick, defensive tackle Byron Young, was released before the 2024 season began. He was selected just a few spots ahead of an outside linebacker also named Byron Young, who is now a rising star with the Rams.
The Raiders took quarterback Aidan O’Connell in the fourth round of this draft as well. He is 7-10 as a starter through two seasons, though he is now behind Geno Smith on the depth chart.
Of the Raiders’ other picks, fifth-round safety Chris Smith II has become a special teams contributor and linebacker Amari Burney has received some playing time on defense. Seventh-round defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera played nine games before getting released midway through last season.
2024
Former general manager Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce found some talent in their lone draft with the franchise.
Tight end Brock Bowers had a record-breaking rookie season after being selected with the 13th overall pick. He appears destined to be one of the best players at his position for years to come.
Second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson made 14 starts on the offensive line last year, and is expected to stick at center this season. Third-round pick DJ Glaze is the team’s projected starter at right tackle after a solid rookie campaign.
Fourth-round pick Decamerion Richardson made seven starts at cornerback last season and could take on a more prominent role in 2025.
The Raiders’ other picks are still fighting for playing time.
Fifth-round linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and seventh-round safety Trey Taylor appeared mostly on special teams last season.
Sixth-round running back Dylan Laube fumbled his only NFL carry, though a fresh start under a new coaching staff could help him.
Seventh-round cornerback M.J. Devonshire spent his rookie season on the practice squad and will fight for a roster spot in training camp.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

If the Raiders are trying to hide their love of star prospect Ashton Jeanty, they’re not doing a good job of it.
The powers that be in Henderson are acting like awkward, bespectacled teenagers who can’t help but shyly drop their head and flash a silly grin every time their crush’s name gets mentioned.
Not that this analogy is coming from any sort of personal experience. Nope, not at all.
But the flirtations between Raiders’ brain trust and the unquestioned best running back in the draft are getting more and more obvious.
Almost to the point they can’t possibly be real.
‘Be careful’
When Jeanty’s name was mentioned in a question during Friday’s news conference at the team facility, coach Pete Carroll leaned away from the microphone and appeared to say something before general manager John Spytek answered the question.
It wasn’t clear in the room at the time, but a later viewing of the video appeared to suggest Carroll had reminded Spytek to “be careful” when answering the question about their feelings on the Boise State star.
“I’m going to be careful about talking about any specific player, but more broadly to the running back question, I mean we just saw Saquon Barkley just change the Eagles in one year,” Spytek said.
Yeah, not quite. But more on that later. Spytek thankfully conceded the Eagles were already a great team before adding Barkley before my hard-core analytics brethren experienced a simultaneous brain explosion.
But he also pushed back on the notion the running back position has declined in importance.
“I think when you sit where we sit, the idea is to add elite players at any position,” Spytek continued. “And I don’t try to devalue any certain position. I mean, there’s times in games where there’s nobody you’d rather have than the best kicker in the league, too, at least in that moment, right? So, there’s certain ways to build a team, and I don’t know where we got to a place where we don’t feel like running backs are valued.”
That came on the heels of the funny anecdote Spytek shared a couple of weeks ago about how his son threatened to find a new family if his father dared not select Jeanty with the sixth pick.
Jeanty hasn’t done much to extinguish the flame. He has spoken glowingly of the Raiders and his visit with the team in several interviews, while also lauding Carroll and his work with one of Jeanty’s early football idols, Marshawn Lynch.
All of this has led mock drafts to connect Jeanty to the Raiders at nearly a 60 percent clip and oddsmakers to install him as a pretty heavy favorite to be picked No. 6 on Thursday.
It can’t be that obvious. Spytek and Carroll are very sharp. They wouldn’t make sloppy mistakes like the Carroll “off-mic” reminder if they were really “Jeanty or bust.”
Tipping your hand in terms of the player you want removes so much value and so much bargaining power. They wouldn’t let that happen. Even if you’re not trying to shop the pick, you’re signaling to the entire world that teams have to trade up to the top five to get Jeanty if they want him.
There’s just no way. Unless they’re playing chess and trying to be so obvious that the other teams in the league think there’s no way it could be true and are therefore double-fooled?
That would be a pretty fun game to play, honestly. We’ll find out Thursday.
While teams have far more information and actual insight, they are really just like fans trying to predict how everything will play out. The Raiders, like all teams, track official visits and interviews and who attended which pro days and private workouts, trying to connect the dots.
“At the same time, that’s a lot of wasted energy to me, because at the end of the day we have no idea what these teams are going to do,” Spytek admitted. “We have a sense, but we’re guessing.”
So are the Raiders tipping their hand or playing games? It’s anyone’s guess at this point.
But as to Spytek’s dissertation about running backs, the answer to who devalued running backs over the year is people like him. Smart people.
The RB question
Jeanty isn’t good. He’s phenomenal. But he’s a running back, and team-building is a matter of simple economics. A great running back can make a very good team elite.
But building a running game is far more about the offensive line, scheme and a good passing game to set it up. Barkley elevated the Eagles because they were the Eagles.
Do you really think he would have done the same thing for the Giants had he stayed in New York?
Of course not. And that’s not a guess.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

The loss of Nate Hobbs in free agency meant the Raiders would have a hole to fill at cornerback this offseason.
When the organization followed by releasing starter Jack Jones, that need became far more pressing.
Here’s a look at where the Raiders stand at cornerback and how the team could approach the position in the draft, which begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin:
Current depth chart
Jakorian Bennett, Decamerion Richardson, Darnay Holmes, Sam Webb, Eric Stokes, M.J. Devonshire, Kyu Blu Kelly
Level of need: High
Bennett took a big step forward last season, and Richardson had promising moments as a rookie. Stokes, a free-agent signee, is a talented former first-round pick who has been limited to 29 games in the past three seasons because of injury.
The rest of the returners are mostly solid depth pieces who continue to develop. This is a group crying for another top-line starter and probably at least one additional quality player.
First-round prospects to watch: Travis Hunter, Colorado; Will Johnson, Michigan; Jahdae Barron, Texas
Hunter is elite, but he won’t be available at pick No. 6. Johnson has gained momentum as a possible match for the Raiders. The defensive MVP of the 2024 national championship game is a smart player who maintains outstanding fundamentals despite his elite size and fluidity.
Barron is a versatile defensive back who could excel for a zone team, particularly away from the boundary.
Second- to third-round prospects: Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina; Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky; Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame; Trey Amos, Ole Miss; Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State; Darien Porter, Iowa State; Zy Alexander, LSU; Denzel Burke, Ohio State; Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech; Jacob Parrish, Kansas State; Cobee Bryant, Cal
Hairston has been gaining momentum as a late first-round pick and could make an immediate impact as a zone specialist, especially in nickel and dime packages. Amos, conversely, loves to play on an island and use his physicality to win at the line of scrimmage in man coverage.
Parrish, who excels in man coverage and loves to press at the line, could be an intriguing fit. He plays with a great deal of physicality.
Fourth- through seventh-round prospects: Nohl Williams, Cal; Mello Dotson, Kansas; Quincy Riley, Louisville; Tommi Hill, Nebraska; O’Donnell Fortune, South Carolina; Alijah Huzzie, North Carolina; Jason Marshall Jr., Florida; Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan; Justin Walley, Minnesota; Jaylin Smith, USC
Williams spent his first three seasons at UNLV, where he had five interceptions and a forced fumble before going to Cal and improving his stock the past two years. He led the nation with seven interceptions last season and has developed a nose for the ball. He’s not an elite athlete and might need time to develop at the next level, but has shown an ability to excel in multiple schemes.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

The expansion of betting markets around the country has opened up a new avenue to wager on the NFL with draft props.
While the market is still limited in Nevada in terms of time and scope to place those wagers, the amount of betting options around the country is robust.
That also opens the door to try to piece together a mock draft based largely upon those markets, though it’s still an inexact science.
Not every player’s draft position or team’s preferred selections are available for wagering. Plus, the numbers are constantly moving, and it’s nearly impossible to figure out an entire first round in which every favorite hits in the market anyway.
But here is our attempt to take a look at how the first round could look if the betting markets and recent line moves are ahead of the traditional prognosticators.
1. Titans
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The market has essentially decided this is a foregone conclusion with Ward listed as high as -10,000 to go with the top pick.
2. Browns
Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
One of the most versatile players in the class has moved to -330 to go with the second pick, as it looks more and more unlikely Cleveland will select a quarterback.
3. Giants
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Another team that appears to be steering away from the quarterback position, as Carter is now a -320 choice to be picked third.
4. Patriots
Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Patriots are predicted by the market to go with an offensive lineman, and Campbell (-155) is a big favorite over Armand Membou (+450). Campbell is also a -175 choice to be selected in the top five.
5. Jaguars
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
This is the first pick where there is ambiguity in the market, though Graham is about a -125 choice to go No. 5. No other player is lower than Jalon Walker at +400, and Graham is about -140 to go in the top five.
6. Raiders
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty is about a -155 favorite to go to the Raiders, far ahead of Walker and cornerback Will Johnson (+650). The market doesn’t anticipate Jeanty being off the board, as he is +550 to go in the top five.
7. Jets
Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Jets are -125 to take an offensive lineman, and Membou is -115 to be the No. 7 pick.
8. Panthers
Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
This is the first spot in the draft where every player is plus money, but Walker (+150) is the clear pick over Mykel Williams (+350). Walker is also -900 to go inside the top 10.
9. Saints
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
News of Derek Carr’s shoulder injury shifted a market that was already leaning in this direction. Sanders is -330 to go outside the top eight, but -220 to go inside the top 10. That says a lot.
10. Bears
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
This one is tricky. Warren is -155 to go inside the top 10, but he’s also favored to be drafted by a Colts team that doesn’t have a top-10 pick. That suggests Indianapolis could trade up to this spot to grab Warren, who is also -225 to be picked after the ninth pick.
11. 49ers
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
San Francisco is actually favored to pick a defensive lineman (+175) or an offensive lineman (+200) over cornerback (+300), but Johnson is priced to barely miss the top 10.
12. Cowboys
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Cowboys are a big favorite to draft a wide receiver in the first round, and McMillan is -230 to be the first one off the board.
13. Dolphins
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
There has been a big movement recently on the Dolphins to pick an offensive lineman, and the over/under on Banks’ draft position is -165 on under 13.5. The writing is on the wall.
14. Colts
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Colts are even money to draft a tight end in the first round, far ahead of an offensive lineman (+270). Warren is favored to end up in Indianapolis, but Loveland is the clear alternative and is -225 to go under 19.5 in draft position.
15. Falcons
Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
The Falcons are a staggering -210 choice to pick a defensive lineman or edge rusher, the second-highest odds on a position for any team outside the top five. Stewart is also -2,000 to go in the first round.
16. Cardinals
Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
The odds were identical in some books Sunday to pick an offensive or defensive lineman, but defensive line moved into a favorite Monday. Williams is also now a slight favorite (-135) to go over 15.5 in draft position.
17. Bengals
Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
The Bengals (-150) are favored to select a defensive lineman or edge rusher in the first round, and Green is a fast riser, now a -150 choice to go under 17.5 in draft position.
18. Seahawks
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Wide receiver is the second choice for Seattle, behind offensive line. But Golden is a -2,000 favorite to be selected in the first round, and his draft position is set right at 17.5 with no lean either way, so this is the right area for him.
19. Buccaneers
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Tampa Bay is expected to take either a defensive lineman (+150) or a linebacker (+175), and Campbell is a -160 choice to go over 18.5 in terms of draft position, a number that was almost certainly set with the Buccaneers in mind.
20. Broncos
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Denver is +135 to take a running back, and Hampton’s draft position prop is 19.5 with a lean to the over. He is -1,400 to be selected in the first round.
21. Steelers
Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
The odds could change significantly depending on whether Aaron Rodgers provides any clarity about his plans. But the Steelers are by far the most likely team remaining in the first round (+225) to take a quarterback, and Dart is -425 to go in the first round. Total quarterbacks picked in the first round is also -475 to go over 2.5.
22. Chargers
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
The Chargers are a +150 choice to take an edge rusher or defensive lineman, and there has been a big move on Ezeiruaku to be selected in the first round (-600).
23. Packers
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Packers are a -105 favorite to select an edge rusher or defensive lineman, though there has been a recent move on cornerback (+175). Harmon is -900 to be selected in the first round.
24. Vikings
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
There is plenty of mystery about how the Vikings will use their first-round pick, but safety (+190) has emerged as a slight favorite over cornerback (+200). Emmanwori is the choice, as he is -1,400 to go in the first round, a clear choice over Malaki Starks (-650).
25. Texans
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Houston is -260 to pick an offensive lineman, making them more likely to go a particular direction than any team outside the top five. Simmons is -750 to go in the first round.
26. Rams
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
While there is no clear favorite for the position of the Rams’ first-round pick, cornerback is the favorite (+225) over offensive lineman (+250). Barron is a favorite to go over a draft position of 17.5, but also a -2,000 favorite to be picked in the first round.
27. Ravens
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Baltimore is an even money choice to pick a defensive lineman, which could give the Ravens a choice between Grant and Walter Nolen. Grant is -400 to go in the first round, and Nolen is -300.
28. Lions
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Detroit is a -200 favorite to address the defensive line. Edge rusher might be a bigger need, but Nolen is a strong choice to go in the first round, while James Pearce Jr. is -120 and Nic Scourton +165 to go in the top 32.
29. Commanders
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Egbuka is favored to go under 29.5 and is also a -180 choice to go in the first round. Over 2.5 receivers in the first round is also a -250 favorite.
30. Bills
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Safety is the third betting choice for Buffalo, but there has been a shift in that direction. Starks is a -650 pick to go in the first round.
31. Chiefs
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
The Chiefs are an even money choice to pick an offensive lineman, and Zabel is -1,000 to go in the first round.
32. Eagles
Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
Booker (-400) is significantly behind Zabel as a first-round pick, but still should make it in. This also keeps the number of offensive linemen barely under the total of 6.5 (-200).
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby is one of the NFL’s best defensive players, but the search for a bookend defensive end has been a work in progress.
Malcolm Koonce broke out in the second half of the 2023 season only to miss all of last season with a knee injury.
The team invested a top-10 pick on Tyree Wilson two years ago, but he has yet to live up to the astronomical expectations.
Charles Snowden flashed ability last season and is back in the mix.
The Raiders should be looking at the NFL draft to improve the position and make Crosby even more dangerous. It also would help a secondary that is still a work in progress.

It’s part of what general manager John Spytek was referring to at the scouting combine when he explained his philosophy of not letting a specific need dictate the direction of the draft if he believes the team can add a game-changer.
“We’re not going to pass on elite talent because we maybe have a couple guys at that spot, but we’re certainly not going to just force picks because we need a player, whether the public thinks that or we think that,” Spytek said.
So the Raiders could be in the market for one of the explosive playmakers on the edge when the draft begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Here’s where they stand at defensive end and how they could approach the position in the draft:
Current depth chart
Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce, Tyree Wilson, Charles Snowden, Andre Carter II, David Agoha, Ovie Oghoufo
Level of need: Moderate
There were a few tense moments early in the offseason when there was speculation Crosby could leave and this would become the Raiders’ top area of need.
A massive extension that locks him up long term changed that and gave the organization certainty with an elite pass rusher and team leader.
Retaining Koonce in free agency was a big win, but it’s unclear how quickly he will regain his late 2003 form. If healthy, he could make a major impact.
And there’s a chance Wilson could finally take a step forward.
But if the Raiders have a high-end talent fall to them at the position, there should be nothing stopping them from making the selection.
Depth and development should be priorities at some point, too.
First-round prospects to watch:
Abdul Carter, Penn State; James Pearce Jr., Tennessee; Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M; Mykel Williams, Georgia; Mike Green, Marshall
Carter might be the best overall prospect in the draft, but he most likely will be gone when the Raiders pick at No. 6.
None of the other prospects on this list warrant the sixth pick. Green could be particularly intriguing if he falls to the second round. He excelled when he stepped up in competitione and is strong against the run and rushing the passer.
Second- to third-round prospects:
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M; Jack Sawyer, Ohio State; JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State; Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss; Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College; Jordan Burch, Oregon; Landon Jackson, Arkansas; Josaiah Stewart, Michigan; Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
The middle of this class is pretty loaded and might be where the Raiders invest a pick.
Ezeiruaku, who had 16½ sacks last season, could be the most intriguing prospect. That production is largely a result of a full repertoire of pass-rush moves. There are questions in the run game, but he should be an impactful third-down player from the start. Kennard is another player who should contribute immediately.
Jackson was great at the Senior Bowl and plays with relentless effort.
Fourth- through seventh-round prospects:
Bradyn Swinson, LSU; Jared Ivey, Ole Miss; Ashton Gillotte, Louisville; Sai’vion Jones, LSU; Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina; Tyler Baron; Miami; Elijah Roberts, SMU; Tyler Batty, BYU; Fadil Diggs, Syracuse; Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech; Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State; Sean Martin, West Virginia; Jah Joyner, Minnesota
The defensive end class is one of the most debated positions with prospect grades all over the map and little consensus among media evaluators.
Expect to see teams make selections out of whack with the consensus.
Ivey is a good scheme fit for the Raiders who plays hard and smart. He would be viewed much differently if he possessed elite burst and athleticism.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

Pete Carroll thought he finally understood the right formula to build a championship team when he returned to the NFL with Seattle in 2010 after two unsuccessful coaching stints in the league.
He was right.
It took him and first-time general manager John Schneider just four years to take a 5-11 franchise with no Pro Bowlers and turn it into a Super Bowl winner. They achieved it largely through the draft and a constant churning of the roster in an effort to find players who fit the culture Carroll was trying to build.
Carroll believes it’s a model that can be replicated with the Raiders, who hired him Jan. 25 to replace Antonio Pierce.
“This is not a different process than the last couple times I had a shot at it,” Carroll said. “It does take some time to get your foothold, and we’ve got a of philosophy and approach that is unique to the way we do things that takes some time to get going. But the urgency is there.”
Raiders fans are hoping for that process to be accelerated for Carroll and another first-time general manager in John Spytek now that they have taken over a struggling franchise in Las Vegas.
It’s worth looking back on how Carroll built a championship roster in Seattle to get an idea of how he might try to rebuild the Raiders, employing what he calls a collaborative process with Spytek.
First draft
Carroll and Schneider’s first draft class was the foundation of their Super Bowl-winning team.
It produced five players who eventually were part of their championship roster, including four who combined to make 14 Pro Bowls.
Defensive backs Earl Thomas (first round, 14th overall) and Kam Chancellor (fifth round, 133rd overall) formed the foundation of the legendary “Legion of Boom” secondary that became the identity of the team’s glory years.
Offensive tackle Russell Okung (first round, sixth overall) anchored the offensive line, though his first few seasons were injury-plagued. Wide receiver Golden Tate was also part of the class as a second-round pick.
It was clear from the beginning Carroll wanted a team that could defend and run the ball, a vision further solidified when the Seahawks made an in-season trade for running back Marshawn Lynch.
But perhaps more important than the physical traits, Carroll wanted players who loved the game. Players who brought passion to the field and the locker room. Players who embraced competition every day.
Panthers coach Dave Canales, who came with Carroll from USC and was on the Seahawks staff until 2022, said Carroll looked for those traits in the evaluation process.
“I think they show up, first and foremost, on film,” Canales said. “You see guys with great energy on film and that aggressive style of play. Defensive guys attacking the football, offensive guys who take care of it. We had all different types of personalities over the years, but it’s really just at the end of the day, ‘Is this player passionate about football?’ And if he is, he’s got a chance of making it with us. That’s the hardest part to figure out.”
Fine-tuning
The Seahawks won the division in that first season and a wild-card game, but they weren’t a finished product. They had, after all, finished 7-9 in the regular season.
Longtime defensive leader K.J. Wright was taken in the fourth round in the 2011 draft, followed by another “Legion of Boomer” in cornerback Richard Sherman in the fifth round, as the Seahawks continued to find gems in the middle and late rounds. Their top four free-agent signings that year were all younger than 26.
The Seahawks took a step back in 2011, finishing 7-9 again and missing the playoffs. But the vision for what they would become was getting clearer, leading to eight playoff appearances in the next nine seasons.
One of the biggest pieces fell into place when the Seahawks took quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 draft.
While the importance of that selection should not be trivialized, it’s important to understand the context of all the groundwork that was laid to allow the team to take that next step under their new franchise quarterback, who made nine Pro Bowls with the team.
The Seahawks also grabbed 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner in the second round that year, placing them firmly on track for championship contention.
It wasn’t until the 2013 season when they appeared to know they were close, trading their first-round pick for playmaker Percy Harvin and adding veteran free agents to bolster the roster.
Constant tweaking
Perhaps the busiest people in the Seahawks’ facility were those responsible for stitching names on the jerseys of the new players and those assigning lockers.
The Seahawks made a staggering 284 roster transactions in the 2010 league year alone. They went well over 200 the following season. Only four players who were on the roster when Carroll took over were on the Super Bowl roster.
There was a method to the madness, however.
Competition is Carroll’s core principle, and he believes that can be fostered at every position on the roster and throughout the building.
It wasn’t about striking fear that no job is safe, but more about making sure everyone on the roster was embracing that spirit of competition.
“We started the whole thing out there looking for the right people to compete with and to make sure that we (would exhaust every avenue) to find the right guys,” Carroll said. “And we found some real success in the second half of the draft, in free agency.”
The number of transactions shrunk, as Carroll started to find the right mix. But the philosophy remained the same.
It’s one that led to an 11-5 season with a playoff appearance in his third year in Seattle and a Super Bowl championship in his fourth season. The 2013 Seahawks team that won the title had 63 players appear in a game, with an average age of 25.7.
Carroll and Schneider drafted 21 of those players from 2010 to 2013. Another eight were undrafted free agents. They found “Legion of Boomer” Brandon Browner in the Canadian Football League, where he had spent four seasons.
Carroll hopes to replicate his formula in Las Vegas
“Every opportunity we’ve had so far, we feel like we’ve exhausted the best shot to get the toughest, most physical guys that love the game,” he said. “Guys that it’s more important than anything in their life but their families.”
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.

Laying a foundation
Pete Carroll’s first three drafts with the Seattle Seahawks laid the foundation for his Super Bowl-winning team in the 2013-14 season. Here’s some key players who were selected in those drafts:
2010
Russell Okung, OT, first round
Earl Thomas, DB, first round
Golden Tate, WR, second round
Kam Chancellor, DB, fifth round
2011
K.J. Wright, LB, fourth round
Richard Sherman, CB, fifth round
2012
Bruce Irvin, DE, first round
Bobby Wagner, LB, second round
Russell Wilson, QB, third round
J.R. Sweezy, DT, seventh round […]

It’s no secret new Raiders coach Pete Carroll and new general manager John Spytek believe in building through the trenches.
Spytek even joked about his proclivity to loading up on blockers at the NFL’s annual meetings in Florida last week.
“We have nine draft picks,” he said. “And you know I love offensive linemen.”
So expect the Raiders to invest on the offensive line in the draft, but they are in a pretty good position.
The Raiders have a workable foundation up front and probably would be comfortable, though not thrilled, about starting the season with the current group of starters. So there is no pressing need to use a premium pick.
Still, they need depth and developmental pieces to help bolster the room and probably would feel much better with another potential starting option on the inside.
There is also a chance the brain trust could fall in love with an elite prospect and look to make a big splash in the first round to instantly upgrade the group.
Regardless, the position is likely to be addressed when the draft begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Here’s where the Raiders stand on the offensive line and how they could approach those positions:
Current depth chart
OT: Kolton Miller, DJ Glaze, Thayer Munford Jr., Dalton Wagner, Gottlieb Ayedze
IOL: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, Alex Cappa, Jordan Meredith, Will Putnam
Level of need: Moderately high
Spytek was coy about the center position, indicating there would be an open competition for the starting job after veteran Andre James was released.
But it would be stunning if Powers-Johnson, a second-round pick last season, isn’t snapping the ball in Week 1. Putnam was developing on the practice squad last season and has primarily played center, so there is a chance he could end up there if the Raiders aren’t comfortable with the guard options and would prefer Powers-Johnson to remain there for now.
Cappa, a veteran free-agent signing who is coming off a disappointing season, would otherwise compete with returners Parham and Meredith for the guard spots.
An upgrade could be sought there.
The same could be said at tackle, though Miller is the stalwart anchor of the group on the left side and Glaze had a promising rookie year on the right side last season
Munford has played well at times, but was inconsistent last season and lost his job to Glaze.
First-round prospects to watch:
OT: Will Campbell, LSU; Armand Membou, Missouri; Josh Simmons, Ohio State; Kelvin Banks, Texas
IOL: Tyler Booker, Alabama
The Raiders are selecting too early to consider an interior offensive lineman in the first round unless they trade down.
One of the tackles could be intriguing, particularly Campbell, but there are much more pressing needs.
Second- to third-round prospects:
OT: Josh Conerly, Oregon; Wyatt Milum, West Virginia; Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona; Marcus Mbow, Purdue; Donovan Jackson, Ohio State; Cameron Williams, Texas; Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota; Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
IOL: Grey Zabel, North Dakota State; Jared Wilson, Georgia; Tate Ratledge, Georgia; Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State; Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
Zabel is a fascinating prospect because he could play anywhere on the line. He might be more valuable as a tackle, but projects as a prototypical guard at the next level and would be a great addition.
Milum could also kick inside, as could several other prospects in a versatile class.
Fourth- through seventh-round prospects:
OT: Charles Grant, William & Mary; Anthony Belton, North Carolina State; Emery Jones Jr., LSU; Hollin Pierce, Rutgers; Logan Brown, Kansas; Chase Lundt, Connecticut; Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
IOL: Miles Frazier, LSU; Jake Majors, Texas; Jackson Slater, Sacramento State; Luke Kandra, Cincinnati, Willie Lampkin, North Carolina; Connor Colby, Iowa; Clay Webb, Jacksonville State; Tyler Cooper, Minnesota
Slater is a name to watch, as he would fit perfectly into what new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly wants to do in the run game.
His tape is tremendous, and he held up on the few occasions when he played against better competition. He’s coming off an injury, though.
This is probably an area to watch for the Raiders to build depth on the offensive line.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

Think of any adjective to describe futility. That word would apply to the Raiders’ running game last season.
The team was never able to get going on the ground, finishing with the fewest rushing yards in the NFL (1,357). Big changes are expected as a result.
The Raiders did add a veteran running back in free agency and should get a promising youngster back from injury, but reinforcements are still needed. There’s a reason several mock drafts project the team to select a running back in the first round.
Here’s a look at the Raiders’ backfield situation and how they could approach the position in the draft:
Current depth chart
Raheem Mostert; Sincere McCormick; Zamir White; Dylan Laube; Chris Collier; Isaiah Spiller
Level of need: High
Mostert should provide a boost to the Raiders’ disastrous run game, but he turned 33 on Wednesday and has a checkered injury history. The former 49ers and Dolphins standout, who led the NFL in touchdowns in 2023, is a short-term solution.
McCormick, 24, provides promise for the future. He impressed by averaging 4.7 yards per carry in five games before suffering an ankle injury.
White, 25, will have to hope the Raiders’ schematic changes under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly help him bounce back from a disappointing campaign. He averaged 2.8 yards per carry in eight games and scored just one touchdown.
First-round prospects to watch: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State; Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Jeanty is one of the best overall players in the draft and could be in play for the Raiders with the sixth overall pick.
He is expected to visit with the team before the first round begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Jeanty, 21, is talented enough to warrant being a top-10 selection. He has a rare combination of vision, elusiveness and power. He can avoid tacklers and shed those trying to bring him down.
It remains to be seen if new Raiders general manager John Spytek would be willing to select a player at a non-premium position with a top-10 pick. Jeanty’s workload in college — he had 374 carries last year, 64 more than any other player — could also be a concern.
Hampton, 22, is more of a straight-line runner who strikes fear into defenses with his speed and power.
Second- and third-round prospects: Cam Skattebo, Arizona State; TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State; Dylan Sampson, Tennessee; Kaleb Johnson, Iowa; Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State; RJ Harvey, UCF; Damien Martinez, Miami (Florida)
Skattebo, 23, should be a fan favorite regardless of where he ends up thanks to the passion and violence he plays with.
Henderson, 22, and Judkins, 21, could be prospects of interest to the Raiders because they played for Kelly last year at Ohio State, where he was the Buckeyes offensive coordinator.
“Great guy, uses me all (over) the field,” Judkins said of Kelly at the combine. “Having a guy like that in your locker room and in your corner as a coach with that ability to give you so many different opportunities and so many ways to give you the ball, it’s amazing to see. So, just to watch him draw things up throughout the year, it was great.”
Harvey, 24, is an elite tackle-breaker.
Fourth- through seventh-round prospects: DJ Giddens, Kansas State; Devin Neal, Kansas; Jaydon Blue, Texas; Trevor Etienne, Clemson; Jarquez Hunter, Auburn; Brashard Smith, SMU; Kalel Mullings, Michigan; Kyle Monangai, Rutgers; Marcus Yarns, Delaware
Etienne, 20, may not be as versatile as his older brother Travis, but he should be an effective receiver at the next level.
Blue, 21, is a fantastic athlete that will provide a home-run threat to any offense.
Mullings, 22, is a former linebacker and he plays like it, while Monangai, 23, almost seeks out defenders to run over.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]

The Raiders just opened up the vault to pay star defensive end Maxx Crosby this offseason, rewarding their emotional leader with a massive deal that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
It wasn’t the biggest contract the organization has ever awarded, however.
In fact, the Raiders haven’t been shy about resetting the market in order to acquire or keep talented players.
Here is a look at the five biggest contracts in franchise history, based on total value at time of signing:
1. Davante Adams, WR, 2022 ($140 million)
The Raiders felt they were one big offensive star away from contending in the AFC after their playoff appearance in 2021.
Adams, who was a friend and college teammate of then-quarterback Derek Carr, was widely considered one of the best offensive players in the league and the team got aggressive.
The Raiders struck a deal with the Packers for Adams and immediately signed him to a massive five-year contract, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history at the time.
He was eventually traded away during a frustrating 2024 campaign.
2. Derek Carr, QB, 2017 ($125 million)
Carr was fresh off his best season as a pro when the Raiders made him the highest-paid player in the league before his rookie deal had even expired. His five-year contract was topped two months later when Matthew Stafford got a raise from the Lions. Carr would also rank third on this list for the three-year, $121.5 million contract he signed in 2022, though he was gone just one year into the deal.
3. Christian Wilkins, DT, 2024 ($110 million)
The Raiders wanted to make a big splash in free agency and did so by landing one of the most-prized defensive players on the market. Wilkins, who was in his prime and had a career-high nine sacks for Miami the previous campaign, quickly agreed to a four-year, $110 million contract. Unfortunately for the Raiders, Wilkins was injured early in his first season with the organization and appeared in only five games. He is expected to be ready to go in 2025 and still has three years remaining on the deal.
4. Maxx Crosby, DE, 2025 ($106.5 million)
Locking up Crosby was one of the first moves of the Raiders’ new brain trust, which includes minority owner Tom Brady, general manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll. Crosby had no more guaranteed money on his previous contract, so the organization rewarded his dedication and loyalty with a massive three-year extension. He was surpassed as the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history days later when defensive end Myles Garrett got a huge deal from the Browns.
5. Trent Brown, OT, 2019 ($66 million)
This spot could go to former coach Jon Gruden and his infamous $100 million contract, but this list will stick to players. Brown’s four-year deal made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in history at the time. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in the first season of the contract but fell out of favor in 2020. He was shipped back to New England, where he played previously, just two years after signing his deal.
Honorable mention
The Raiders signed offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele to a five-year, $58.5 million contract in 2016. He played mostly guard for the Raiders, but was versatile enough to kick outside and play tackle as well. As a pure guard, he would have been by far the highest-paid player in the league at the position at the time of the signing. He lasted three seasons in Oakland before he was traded to the Jets.
Before there was a rookie pay scale, the Raiders signed quarterback JaMarcus Russell to a whopping six-year contract for $61 million after selecting him with the first pick of the 2007 draft. The deal wasn’t done until Russell held out into the regular season. He lasted just three years in the NFL.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X. […]