Inspired by a recent episode of the NFL Stock Exchange podcast, where hosts Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers ranked the best and worst picks in the last 10 NFL drafts for the entire league, I wanted to conduct a similar exercise that focuses on the Las Vegas Raiders. So, while we have some downtime before training camp, let’s dive into the Raiders’ best and worst draft picks since moving to Las Vegas in 2020.
We’ll skip the most recent, 2026 class, since those guys haven’t played in a game yet.
2020 Draft
Best
pick: CB Amik Robertson (4th Round, 139th overall)
The organization got off to a rough start in its new city, as the Silver and Black’s best pick from its inaugural draft class in Vegas was the last player it selected. Robertson never blossomed into a full-time starter with the Raiders, but he did prove to be a good depth piece and spot starter. He notched four interceptions and 15 PDs during his last two seasons with the club, providing inside-outside versatility at cornerback. The Louisiana Tech product spent the last two years in a similar role with the Detroit Lions and has a chance to be a regular first-stringer with the Washington Commanders in 2026.
Worst pick: CB Damon Arnette (1st Round, 19th overall)
There were plenty of options here, as Tanner Muse was taken in the third round and never played a regular-season snap for the Raiders. Then, there’s the elephant in the room with Henry Ruggs III. Obviously, the situation with Ruggs was worse, and it certainly wasn’t easy deciding between him and Arnette. But, if we’re looking at it from the perspective of what they contributed on the field, the team at least was getting good production from the wide receiver. Meanwhile, the cornerback played poorly and hardly saw the field in year two before off-the-field issues led to his dismissal. Albeit, much less severe than Ruggs driving drunk and killing someone.
2021 Draft
Best pick: CB Nate Hobbs (5th Round, 167th overall)
This class produced a handful of decent players in Las Vegas, as Tre’von Moehrig and Malcolm Koonce were also considered for the best pick. The deciding factor comes down to value, and getting 38 starts over four seasons is a great return on a mid-fifth-round pick. Hobbs proved to be a good nickelback for the Raiders, making quality tackles for short gains in both phases of the game. After a year with the Green Bay Packers, where they tried to make him an outside cornerback, the Illinois product looks to provide stability to the San Francisco 49ers’ nickelback position this season.
Worst pick: OT Alex Leatherwood (1st Round, 17th overall)
This one is easy, as Sikkema and Rogers brought it up (but went in a different direction) as an option for the worst pick in the entire draft. While Leatherwood started 17 games as a rookie, that felt like John Gruden forcing the first-round pick onto the field to justify the selection. He ended up having to move from right tackle to right guard and didn’t even make the team a year later when Gruden wasn’t around. Leatherwood ended up signing with three different teams, but he only took 32 offensive snaps after leaving Las Vegas and hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022.
2022 Draft
Best pick: G Dylan Parham (3rd Round, 90th overall)
The Raiders traded away their first- and second-round picks ahead of the 2022 draft to land Davante Adams, so the pickings are pretty slim for the best pick. Parham wasn’t great, and the organization let him walk during free agency this offseason, but the other option considered was Thayer Munford. At least the Memphis product was a four-year starter for the Silver and Black. Parham signed with the Jets this spring, where he’ll have a chance to continue starting.
Worst pick: Neil Farrell Jr. (4th Round, 126th overall)
Farrell’s tenure in the NFL was pretty short-lived. He recorded just 158 snaps as a rookie, per Pro Football Reference, and that ended up being the most of his career. The Raiders were so willing to get rid of the LSU product that they traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick a year later. Farrell was out of the NFL by 2024 and is currently playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL.
2023 Draft
Best pick: WR Tre Tucker (3rd Round, 100th overall)
Overall, this draft class has been bad, making Tucker an easy selection for the best pick. He’s gotten better and more productive every year of his career so far, becoming the team’s leading receiver with 57 catches for 696 yards and five touchdowns last season. What’s even more impressive is that the former Bearcat has done that while dealing with subpar quarterback play. Now, Tucker gets to play with Fernando Mendoza/Kirk Cousins and has an opportunity to make some money during a contract year.
Worst pick: DT Byron Young (3rd Round, 70th overall)
A lot of people would probably put Tyree Wilson here, since he was a first-round pick and only made seven starts over three years. That’s fair, as he definitely falls into the “first-round bust” category, but Wilson was at least on the field and contributed against the run. Also, the organization got something for his departure—a 2026 fifth-round pick that was used to select safety Dalton Johnson. Meanwhile, Young played in six games (no starts) and collected four tackles as a rookie before getting cut for nothing the following year. He ended up landing with the Philadelphia Eagles, winning a Super Bowl in 2024, and is currently part of the Eagles’ defensive line rotation.
2024 Pick
Best pick: TE Brock Bowers (1st Round, 13th overall)
This is another one that’s easy since Bowers is in the conversation with Maxx Crosby as the best player on the current roster. The tight end had a historic rookie season, and ranked ninth in catches (64), 10th in yards (680) and tied for fifth in touchdowns (seven) at the position while battling injuries and missing five games in year two.
Worst pick: CB Decamerion Richardson (4th Round, 112th overall)
While M.J. Devonshire and Trey Taylor were also considered since neither of them took a defensive snap for the Silver and Black, both were seventh-round picks with low expectations anyway. Then, Dylan Laube was also in contention, but Laube at least has a chance to have a role on the team as a returner moving forward. Meanwhile, Richardson was drafted higher than the three other players named, and didn’t play on defense last season until the Week 18 game scrimmage against the Kansas City Chiefs. The outlook for 2026 doesn’t appear to be much better for the Mississippi State product, as he’s behind Eric Stokes, Darien Porter and Jermod McCoy on the depth chart.
2025 Pick
Best pick: RB Ashton Jeanty (1st Round, 6th overall)
While Jeanty fell short of lofty expectations for a rookie, he still managed to record over 1,300 total yards and had 10 touchdowns from scrimmage last season. Considering how bad the Raiders’ offensive line was, that’s pretty good production in year one. Also, the team infamously didn’t get much production from the 2025 draft class, making the Boise State product an easy choice.
Worst pick: WR Tommy Mellott (6th Round, 215th overall)
Dont’e Thornton Jr. was a close second here since he was drafted higher and could easily be off the roster a year later. But in fairness to Thornton (and the majority of this class, too), he at least has a chance to prove himself and bounce back after an underwhelming rookie campaign. Meanwhile, Mellott didn’t even make the practice squad and hasn’t been on a team since the beginning of October. He was added to the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad shortly after getting cut by the Raiders, but was released by the Saints about a month later. So, maybe drafting an FCS quarterback and asking him to switch positions in the NFL wasn’t such a good idea…
