The Las Vegas Raiders‘ history of first-round picks in the NFL Draft at times inspires awe — for reasons both good and bad. The Raiders have seen it all, and they’ve been to both extremes on the spectrum of success and failure. Here’s a look at the Raiders’ NFL Draft history in totality, dating all the way back to 1961.
Las Vegas Raiders First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
The Raiders have been successful in the NFL Draft before. They have five first-round picks enshrined in the Hall of Fame, among them Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, and Charles Woodson. Unfortunately, however, most people remember the Raiders’ draft performance for their blunders.
Famously, the Raiders spent their only first overall pick in franchise history on Jamarcus Russell in 2007, who’s regarded as one of the biggest NFL Draft busts of all time. More recently, selections like Alex Leatherwood, Damon Arnette, Henry Ruggs III, Clelin Ferrell, and Johnathan Abram have all been ill-fated.
Even so, the Raiders have several high-quality picks sprinkled in the modern era. Khalil Mack may be a future Hall of Famer, and Amari Cooper is a four-time Pro Bowler.
2024
- Brock Bowers | Pick 13
TE, Georgia
2023
- Tyree Wilson | Pick 7
EDGE, Texas Tech
2022
The Raiders traded the 22nd pick to the Green Bay Packers.
2021
- Alex Leatherwood | Pick 17
OL, Alabama
2020
- Henry Ruggs III | Pick 12
WR, Alabama - Damon Arnette | Pick 19
CB, Ohio State
2019
- Clelin Ferrell | Pick 4
DE, Clemson - Josh Jacobs | Pick 24
RB, Alabama - Johnathan Abram | Pick 27
S, Mississippi State
2018
- Kolton Miller | Pick 15
OT, UCLA
2017
- Gareon Conley | Pick 24
CB, Ohio State
2016
- Karl Joseph | Pick 14
S, West Virginia
2015
- Amari Cooper | Pick 4
WR, Alabama
2014
- Khalil Mack | Pick 5
LB, Buffalo
2013
- D.J. Hayden | Pick 12
DB, Houston
2012
The Raiders traded the 17th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.
2011
The Raiders traded the 17th pick to the New England Patriots.
2010
- Rolando McClain | Pick 8
LB, Alabama
2009
- Darrius Heyward-Bey | Pick 7
WR, Maryland
2008
- Darren McFadden | Pick 4
RB, Arkansas
2007
- JaMarcus Russell | Pick 1
QB, LSU
2006
- Michael Huff | Pick 7
DB, Texas
2005
- Fabian Washington | Pick 23
DB, Nebraska
2004
- Robert Gallery | Pick 2
OL, Iowa
2003
- Nnamdi Asomugha | Pick 31
DB, California - Tyler Brayton | Pick 32
DE, Colorado
2002
- Phillip Buchanon | Pick 17
DB, Miami (FL) - Napoleon Harris | Pick 23
LB, Northwestern
2001
- Derrick Gibson | Pick 28
DB, Florida State
2000
- Sebastian Janikowski | Pick 17
K, Florida State
1999
- Matt Stinchcomb | Pick 18
G, Georgia
1998
- Charles Woodson* | Pick 4
DB, Michigan - Mo Collins | Pick 23
G, Florida
1997
- Darrell Russell | Pick 2
DT, USC
1996
- Rickey Dudley | Pick 9
TE, Ohio State
1995
- Napoleon Kaufman | Pick 18
RB, Washington
1994
- Rob Fredrickson | Pick 22
LB, Michigan State
1993
- Patrick Bates | Pick 12
DB, Texas A&M
1992
- Chester McGlockton | Pick 16
DT, Clemson
1991
- Todd Marinovich | Pick 24
QB, USC
1990
- Anthony Smith | Pick 11
DE, Arizona
1989
The Raiders traded the 11th pick to the Chicago Bears.
1988
- Tim Brown* | Pick 6
WR, Notre Dame - Terry McDaniel | Pick 9
DB, Tennessee - Scott Davis | Pick 25
DT, Illinois
1987
- John Clay | Pick 15
OT, Missouri
1986
- Bob Buczkowski | Pick 24
DE, Pittsburgh
1985
- Jessie Hester | Pick 23
WR, Florida State
1984
The Raiders traded the 28th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.
1983
- Don Mosebar | Pick 26
C, USC
1982
- Marcus Allen* | Pick 10
RB, USC
1981
- Ted Watts | Pick 21
DB, Texas Tech - Curt Marsh | Pick 23
G, Washington
1980
- Marc Wilson | Pick 15
QB, BYU
1979
The Raiders traded the 19th pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
1978
The Raiders traded the 26th pick to the Green Bay Packers.
1977
The Raiders traded the 28th pick to the Green Bay Packers.
1976
The Raiders traded the 23rd pick to the Green Bay Packers.
1975
- Neal Colzie | Pick 24
DB, Ohio State
1974
- Henry Lawrence | Pick 19
OT, Florida A&M
1973
- Ray Guy* | Pick 23
P, Southern Miss
1972
- Mike Siani | Pick 21
WR, Villanova
1971
- Jack Tatum | Pick 19
DB, Ohio State
1970
- Raymond Chester | Pick 24
TE, Morgan St.
1969
- Art Thoms | Pick 22
DT, Syracuse
1968
- Eldridge Dickey | Pick 25
WR, Tennessee State
1967
- Gene Upshaw* | Pick 17
G, Texas A&M-Kingsville
1966
- Rodger Bird | Pick 63
DB, Kentucky
The Raiders deferred their picks in the 1966 draft and made them much later. While technically their first-round selection, Bird was not selected until the 63rd pick. The Raiders’ first pick was actually their second-round selection with pick 57.
1965
- Harry Schuh | Pick 3
OT, Memphis
1964
- Tony Lorick | Pick 7
RB, Arizona State
1963
The Raiders traded the first pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.
1962
- Roman Gabriel | Pick 1
QB, North Carolina State
1961
- Joe Rutgens | Pick 5
DT, Illinois
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
