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Saturday, April 19, 2025 | 2 a.m.
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As the NFL Draft approaches Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a pivotal position with the sixth overall pick.
Under the new leadership trio of head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady, the Raiders are looking to address multiple needs after a challenging season.
With the worst rushing attack in the league last year and holes on both sides of the ball, this draft represents a crucial opportunity to build a foundation for the franchise’s future.
First-round history
The Raiders’ first-round draft history began in 1961 when they selected Joe Rutgens, a defensive tackle from Illinois, with the fifth overall pick[7]. However, Rutgens chose to sign with the NFL instead of the AFL, establishing an early pattern of draft challenges for the franchise[1].
Throughout the 1960s, the Raiders made several notable first-round picks, including:
• Roman Gabriel (1962, first overall), who also opted to sign with the NFL[1]
• Gene Upshaw (1967, 17th overall), who would become a Hall of Famer[7]
The 1970s and 1980s brought some of the team’s most impactful first-rounders:
• Jack Tatum (1971, 19th pick), a safety who would come to personify the franchise’s image[7]
• Ray Guy (1973, 23rd pick), the first pure punter inducted into the Hall of Fame[7]
• Marcus Allen (1982, 10th pick), a Hall of Fame running back[7]
• Tim Brown (1988, sixth pick), a Hall of Fame wide receiver[7]
In more recent decades, the Raiders selected:
• Charles Woodson (1998, fourth pick), a Hall of Fame defensive back[7]
• Sebastian Janikowski (2000, 17th pick), a rare first-round kicker selection[7]
• Nnamdi Asomugha (2003, 31st pick), an elite cornerback[7]
• Khalil Mack (2014, fifth pick), who has 107.5 career sacks
• Amari Cooper (2015, fourth pick), a four-time Pro Bowler with 10,033 career receiving yards[7]
Recent first-round picks include:
• Tyree Wilson (2023, 7th pick)[7]
• Brock Bowers (2024, 13th pick)[7]
The Raiders have also traded away their first-round picks several times throughout their history, including in 2022 when they traded the 22nd pick to the Green Bay Packers[7] as part of a deal to acquire receiver Davante Adams.
Biggest bust
JaMarcus Russell (2007, first overall) is widely considered the Raiders’ biggest draft bust, and one of the worst first overall selections in NFL history[3][8]. The Raiders invested heavily in the strong-armed LSU quarterback, but Russell’s career was derailed by weight issues, poor work ethic and lack of preparation.
Russell started only 25 games over three seasons, posting a 7-18 record before being released in May 2010[3]. Despite his brief NFL career, Russell earned nearly $40 million from the Raiders[3]. His selection is particularly painful because the Raiders ignored numerous red flags, including warnings from an NFC general manager who advised owner Al Davis against the pick[3].
Best sixth overall pick in history
The sixth pick has produced several standout players. Among them:
• Julio Jones (2011) — Considered a likely Hall of Famer, Jones has amassed over 13,700 receiving yards and 66 touchdowns in his career. At his peak, he was arguably the NFL’s top receiver[4].
• Tim Brown (1988) — The Raiders’ own sixth overall selection became a Hall of Fame wide receiver[7].
• Richard Seymour (2001) — A versatile defensive lineman who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and earned five All-Pro selections[4].
• Torry Holt (1999) — A key member of the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams offense who won Super Bowl XXIV and was a two-time All-Pro[4].
Mock draft consensus
Mock drafts strongly suggest the Raiders will select Ashton Jeanty, a running back from Boise State[2][5][6][10]. Jeanty is considered the most well-rounded running back in this draft class and a true difference-maker who could significantly improve the Raiders’ rushing attack, which was the worst in the league last season[2].
BetMGM odds heavily favor Jeanty at the sixth pick (-145), well ahead of other candidates such as Jalon Walker (+700) and Will Johnson (+750)[5]. Multiple mock drafts, including those from Pro Football Network and Sports Illustrated, project Jeanty to the Raiders[6][10].
The selection would make sense given:
• The Raiders’ need to improve their rushing attack
• New head coach Pete Carroll’s history of success with strong running games (Marshawn Lynch in Seattle, Reggie Bush at USC)[5]
• The Raiders’ acquisition of quarterback Geno Smith, creating a need for offensive weapons to support him[6]
However, some analysts suggest the Raiders should consider other positions, with
NFL.com’s Adam Rank recommending cornerback Jahdae Barron to help strengthen the defense[9].
Sources
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Las_Vegas_Raiders_first-round_draft_picks
[4] https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/nfl-draft-best-and-worst-pick-6
[6] https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/mock-draft-las-vegas-quinn-ewers-ashton-jeanty-tre-harris-tyler-baron
[7] https://www.profootballnetwork.com/list-of-las-vegas-raiders-first-round-nfl-draft-picks/
[8] https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/draft-oakland-las-vegas-jamarcus-russell-bust
[9] https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-mock-draft-with-a-twist-what-every-team-should-do-in-round-1
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