What is the story about?
The Raiders 2025 draft class only has played one season, so identifying which players could or could not be replaced here is a little bit different than my previous editions. Players have either under, or over performed and plenty of players are still developing after being selected as pure developmental prospects. Ashton Jeanty is a staple of the Raiders offense, and looking back was a runningback the right pick, most likely not, but he’ll remain a focal point of the Klint Kubiak offense, beyond
that we will see the rest.
A fun idea I had was a re-draft, but not any re-draft that just picks the best player, I wanted to re-draft the Raiders for 2020 but use the same positions at each selection. For example in 2019 at 4th overall, while I would desperately want to take a defensive tackle, the Raiders selected EDGE Clelin Ferrell and thus they’ll stick at EDGE. A few rules:
- Any player can be selected, but only one’s who were available with that pick to start with, for example a busted first round pick, who still produced but not at a first round value I can’t take in round 3 or 4
- I MUST take a player at the same position that was taken at that selection (QB for QB, RB for RB, etc)
- The overall selections remain the same, I won’t assume a trade does or doesn’t happen
I plan to do a redraft for 2019 to 2025 re-draft and then my own personal “what I would do” 2026 re-draft so keep an eye on those.
Round 1, 6th Overall: RB Ashton Jeanty (original pick)
Original Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty
- You could likely make a case here for Patriots 2nd rounder TreVeyon Henderson or Browns Quinshon Judkins, but I remain with Jeanty. An underwhelming season for the rookie out of Boise State was largely in part to near historically bad offensive line play in terms of run blocking. Jeanty recorded just 975 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, with a 3.7 yards/attempt but he also added 346 yards, five touchdowns, and 55 receptions good for over 1300 career yards from scrimmage. Jeanty also ranked inside the top eight for breakaway rate, missed tackles forced, yards after contact, and explosive run rate with him ranking top 3 in both missed tackles and yards after contact.
Round 2, 58th Overall: WR Kyle Williams (69th overall)
Original Pick: WR Jack Bech
- I debated sticking with Bech or going with Noel, Chimere Dike, and Pat Bryant. Dike is an All-Pro for his pure return skills and despite 48 receptions, 423 yards, and 4 TD he’s a little limited as a receiver which gives me a bit of concern there given the reliance on straight line speed & limited route running. Broncos 3rd rounder Pat Bryant hauled in 378 yards, and a touchdown on 31 receptions, and Bech 224 yards on 20 receptions. Lastly, Noel logged 26 receptions, 292 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
The 2025 draft was deep at wide receiver, but there was a stark fall off after the 39th overall selection of Luther Burden with just four of 17 receivers crossing 300 yards today. Kyle Williams was among my top receivers in the class, and the 3rd rounder hauled in 10 receptions, 209 yards, and three touchdowns with another 290 yards on 11 kick returns. It’s hard to evaluate the draft class, and Bech could turn into having a long career but his rookie season was far from expectations.
Round 3, 68th Overall: CB Darien Porter (original pick)
Original Pick: CB Darien Porter
- Like other picks on this list, it was a debate mainly down to Chiefs Nohl Williams, 49ers Upton Stout & Saints Quincy Riley. Riley and Stout both primarily play the slot, and both struggled with their ups and downs in 2025 in the run game, coverage, and volume of targets. Nohl Williams allowed a 52% reception rate, 276 yards, and a 82.9 QBR with 7 PBU and 50 tackles. Porter played roughly 200 more snaps, and the 3rd rounder logged 5 PBU, a FR, and allowed just 290 yards, 0 touchdowns, and a 79.8 QBR. Porter is older, but he’s new the position, and the 4th rounder has elite measurables with the potential to be a long term starting defensive back.
Round 3, 98th Overall: IOL Caleb Rogers (original pick)
Original Pick: IOL Caleb Rogers
- The 2025 class featured some good offensive line names at the top of the class, and beyond that a bit of their ups and downs. This decision was pretty straight forward, as most of the lineman after this selection didn’t see much playtime, and/or were poor to start off their careers. Rogers had his struggles allowing 4 sacks, 3 hits, and 12 pressures with a 5.8% pressure rate across just under 300 snaps. He had his ups and downs, but does figure to play a role for the Raiders in 2026 and beyond.
Round 3, 99th Overall: T Charles Grant (original pick)
Original Pick: T Charles Grant
- It really just comes down to Travis, Grant, or Chiefs UDFA Esa Pole. Pole is projected to start for the Chiefs this year at LT, and the 6’7/315 athletic tackle should have been drafted last year. Additionally, an argument can be made for Travis who at 6’7/340 has looked pretty athletic and logged 316 snaps for the Colts allowing just a sack and 13 pressures. Grant barely played in 2025, he flashed a lot of upside in his two games vs the Eagles & Chiefs, and he may have a shot at playtime in 2026 should injuries occur. Given where the Raiders were, Grant is drafted as a developmental project and at just 23 years old I ended up sticking with him.
Round 4, 108th Overall: WR Elic Ayomanor (136th overall)
Original Pick: WR Dont’e Thornton Jr
- Thornton hauled in just 10 receptions and 135 yards in 2025, largely struggling to create separation, win contested catches, and he also saw issues with his drop rates. Thornton is largely a project player, and the athletic intangibles are highly impressive, but he’ll need to put things together to be a consistent long-term option at wide receiver. Titans 4th rounder, Elic Ayomanor was among my favorite day three picks and the 22 year old logged 41 receptions, 515 yards, and four touchdowns in 2025 off 89 receptions. He ranked top five among rookie receivers in contested catches, separation, and yards after catch.
Round 4, 135th Overall: DT Tonka Hemingway (original pick)
Original Pick: DT Tonka Hemingway
- I heavily debated Seahawks 5th rounder Rylie Mills who only played 28 regular season snaps for Seattle coming off a torn ACL but he logged a sack, 2 TFL, and 3 QB hits in 2 playoff games and figures to be an aspect of the Seahawks DL going forward. Hemingway is a pretty poor run defender, and it’s been something that he’s struggled with even dating back to South Carolina. Hemingway had an impressive rookie season as a pass rusher with 4 sacks, 5 TFL, 7 QB hits, 11 pressures, and a 6% pass rush win rate. The 4th rounder figures to be a big player for the Raiders interior defensive line this season.
Round 6, 180th Overall: DT JJ Pegues
Original Pick: DT JJ Pegues
- As I added with other picks above this, it’s pretty difficult to find the possible options here. Pegues played just 137 snaps with a TFL, 11 tackles, and FR while adding some flashes as a run defender, four pressures, and a 4% pass rush win rate. Pegues had a weird season working between nose tackle, 2/3 and some 4 technique also. The career 0-2 technique struggled when out of position, but should see his time back at nose tackle this season, and/or more towards the 0-2 technique instead of the 3-5 he played last year. The only option here was UDFA Naz Stackhouse who’s a true nose tackle, and produced much the same as Pegues last season, but after those two there’s not much.
Round 6, 213th Overall: WR Tez Johnson (235th overall)
Original Pick: WR Tommy Mellott
- Tommy Mellott was an elite athlete, but the Raiders drafted him and moved him to wide receiver where he struggled to adapt immediately, and then he was released after training camp. Mellott landed with the Saints and is now likely to join the CFL. The pick was pretty confusing as is, drafting a project player and then the Raiders stating that Mellott didn’t fit their timeline. Regardless, I landed with Buccaneers WR Tez Johnson who fell largely due to poor measurables weighing in at just 165 pounds. The 7th rounder still enjoyed success, largely as a deep option with 28 receptions, 322 yards, and five touchdowns in just 495 snaps (15 games). Johnson would’ve fit the Raiders better, drafting an athletic WR, and one that could have contributed immediately.
Round 6, 215th Overall: QB Quinn Ewers (231st overall)
Original Pick: QB Cam Miller
- Cam Miller only played in the pre-season for the Raiders, before being claimed off the practice squad by the Dolphins in January. I ended up going with Ewers, given he’s played and looks to be a capable backup QB in the NFL. Ewers played in 4 games, going 1-2 as a starter, with a 66% reception rate, 3 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and 622 yards. He also added a touchdown and 19 rushing yards. The Raiders drafted Miller to potentially be a long term backup QB, and he could be but with a different team.
Round 7, 222nd Overall: ILB Shaun Dolac
Original Pick: ILB Cody Lindenberg
- This came down to Shaun Dolac & Lindenberg, both are pretty strong options and both will have long NFL careers for their pure special teams value. Lindenberg did not play on defense, and Dolac played just 43 snaps with 4 tackles, a PBU, and 2 TFL. Dolac added 18 special teams tackles with just three missed tackles. Meanwhile, Lindenberg did not play for the Raiders defensively last year, sticking to mainly special teams where he registered 16 tackles. It’s a toss up, I went with Dolac for his experience on defense and with better special teams production, though Lindenberg very likely can be on the Raiders roster this season seeing defensive snaps.
