There are very few teams looking forward to the NFL Draft more than the Las Vegas Raiders. But with a new ownership group led by Tom Brady at the helm, this could be the start of a reversal of fortunes for the franchise. Let's take a look at what PFN predicts in their latest 7-Round mock.
With entirely new leadership in place in Las Vegas, the front office should have enough of a runway to bring along Ward at a reasonable pace. Under no circumstance should Ward play in 2025. In fact, he should probably be the team’s emergency quarterback unless injuries take over for the Raiders.
Ward’s closest comparison is Zach Wilson. His bad habits will only be magnified in live action against NFL defenses. However, if the organization places training wheels on him, he has the athletic potential to compete in a division with Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes.
Princely Umanmielen is a 50 Cent and Eminem collaboration. We’ve been patiently waiting for him to explode for the better part of three years, and he finally flipped the switch late in his collegiate career. Umanmielen always had the bend and explosiveness to be a problem, but his pass rush plan always lacked. However, the well-proportioned pass rusher seemed to finally get into a groove late in college, and pairing him with Crosby could lead to beautiful results in Las Vegas if he develops further.
Just look at the Las Vegas Raiders roster. The WR desperately needs an overhaul and Jayden Higgins could provide some steady fluidity with his big body, that allowed him to compile 1,183 in his final collegiate year.
Higgins brings the thunder and Johnson brings the flash to what should (eventually) be a high-flying passing attack with Ward under center in the future. Higgins is big but fluid, and Johnson is as quick as anybody in the draft class, although his frame makes his jump to the league a bit difficult, considering we haven’t seen too many receivers with his frame find consistent success in recent times.
After losing Josh Jacobs, the Raiders have been in search of a consistent RB on their depth chart. Ollie Gordon could answer that call if he can return to his 2023 form where he totaled 1,732 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
The security blanket in case Gordon doesn't pan out is Phil Mafah who steadily improved into a 1,115-yard RB in his final year with Clemson. Averaging over 5 rushing yards per attempt for three-straight seasons, he could be a dependable answer for Las Vegas.
A physical defender against the run and instinctually awesome against the pass, Billy Bowman Jr could give the Raiders defense in the secondary a shot in the armor. While his size is a question mark, he is incredibly versatile, especially near the line of scrimmage.
One of highest-rated CB by PFF, Kam Alexander lost his season to injury dramatically dropping his stock. But, if he can remain at his level before the injury, Alexander could be a steal for the Raiders.
Though limited in size, Power Echols is a high-motor second-level defender with infinite range and athleticism. If he can add strength to his frame, he could become a three-down player who can capitalize on his coverage upside.
Though his strength leaves a lot to be desired, Patrick Jenkins has a high motor to finish plays and chase the ball. A potential diamond in the rough, he could develop into something special.
