The 2021 draft turned into being one of the Raiders best classes in recent years, adding 5 proven starters across their 7 selections. That said, the Raiders did have a whiff in the first round, and arguably one of the worst whiffs in the 2020s, if not the worst. Las Vegas also failed to retain most of their young talent from the class, with only one player remaining on the roster to this day.
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 2024 re-draft and then my own personal “what I would do” 2025 re-draft so keep an eye on those.
Round 1, 17th Overall: T Christian Darrisaw (23rd overall)
Original Pick: T Alex Leatherwood
- As I said earlier, this is probably one of the worst picks of the entire 2020s, if not the worst. Leatherwood played 1200 snaps for the Raiders in 2021 allowing 8 sacks, 18 hits, and 72 pressures where his hits and pressures allowed were the most of any OL in the NFL with 10 penalties. I debated this pick with Bills tackle Spencer Brown, an original third rounder, but the NEXT tackle off the board was Vikings star tackle Christian Darrisaw who in his entire NFL career has allowed just 114 pressures, 22 sacks, and 29 QB hits. Darrisaw has dealt with injuries through his career, but he’s been undoubtedly one of the best tackles in the NFL when on the field, and comparative to what Las Vegas originally had this would be a no brainer.
Round 2, 43rd Overall: SAF Tre’von Moehrig (original pick)
Original Pick: SAF Tre’von Moehrig
- The 2021 safety class was very highly regarded heading into the year, and looking back about half a decade later it hasn’t lived up to what the expected year was. That said, Moehrig has been one of the better safeties to come out of the class. The Raiders likely regret letting Moehrig walk, and while he struggled in man coverage at times Moehrig was a natural run defender, had the ability to play centerfield safety, strong, free, and the nickel. The 27 year old has started 82 games with seven interceptions, 31 PBU, 400 tackles, and 24 TFL including an NFL DB leading 14 in 2025. In coverage, Moehrig has allowed 14 touchdowns & a 97.1 QBR across his career though he’s posted two seasons with a sub 85 QBR allowed.
Round 3, 79th Overall: EDGE Jonathon Cooper (240th overall)
Original Pick: EDGE Malcolm Koonce
- Ok this one is pretty weird and pretty interesting for me to decide. On one hand, Malcolm Koonce who has turned in a career 14.5 sacks, 85 tackles, and 17 TFL has been good for a third round selection, while also factoring in Koonce has played in just 56 games & 1120 snaps. He’s also logged a career 99 pressures, 14.2% pass rush win rate, and 32 QB hits. The biggest, and really only, option to push Koonce for the pick here would be Broncos 7th rounder Jonathon Cooper. Cooper, who’s recently been arrested for eating his girlfriends phone (sentence of all time), has a career 266 tackles, 33 TFL, and 31 sacks plus 2 FF in 81 games (3236 snaps).
Additionally, Cooper has a career 12.4% pass rush win rate, 232 pressures, and 63 QB hits. Cooper has been a very good run defender through his career, but in hindsight here (which this pick is) you can’t overlook the off-field aspects. I really debated this pick, and you can go either way but there’s truly no other options with the majority of the classes top pass rushers going inside the first two days.
Round 3, 80th Overall: ILB Ernest Jones (103rd overall)
Original Pick: ILB Divine Deablo
- You can make a strong case for Deablo here, especially with the season he had in 2025 for the Falcons though he’s taken time to adjust to the NFL largely in part from switching to ILB from strong safety. Deablo has a career 361 tackles, 15 TFL, 13 PBU, 3 sacks, and has allowed a 109.4 QBR and 77.4% reception rate in coverage. Deablo has been an excellent tackler in his career at just a 7.4% missed tackle rate, and he seems to be hitting his stride. Looking back, Ernest Jones who’s a 2x All-Pro and has a career 584 tackles, 27 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 9 interceptions, 23 PBU, and 2 FF is likely the better pick. Jones has spent his career weirdly on three teams, but he’s only posted sub 120 tackles in just one season (2021). In coverage, he’s allowed just a 78.1 QBR, two touchdowns, and a 73% reception rate while anchoring two super bowl winning defenses with a career 43 tackles, 4 TFL, INT, and 2 FF in the playoffs (6 games).
Round 4, 143rd Overall: SAF Talanoa Hufanga (180th overall)
Original Pick: SAF Tyree Gillespie
- Gillespie never got started for the Raiders, playing just 11 games in 2021 then being traded to the Titans. If this was a true re-draft, Hufanga would be a first rounder, in this case I am taking him here (sue me). Hufanga is a 2x All-Pro and has a career 325 tackles, 15 TFL, 7 interceptions, 25 breakups, and 4 sacks through a career 66 games with the 49ers and Broncos. Hufanga has been able to play traditional free safety, strong safety, and worked heavily in a nickel safety role for both defenses he’s been apart of. Hufanga and Moehrig are arguably the two best safeties from the class, or at least inside the top 3-4, and both paired on the Raiders secondary would have set them up well.
Round 5, 167th Overall: CB Deommodore Lenoir (172nd overall)
Original Pick: CB Nate Hobbs
- Nate Hobbs was good for the Raiders, the former Illinois CB played well in the slot with 281 tackles, 14 TFL, 3 interceptions, 21 breakups, and 3 forced fumbles across 51 games. Hobbs dealt with a ton of injuries missing time in each season, before signing with the Packers who moved him to the boundary where he did struggle. Hobbs was then released and is now with the 49ers. Hobbs has allowed a career 102.5 QBR, 72% reception rate, and 14 touchdowns in his career as well. On the flip side, 49ers standout cornerback Deommodore Lenoir has a career 326 tackles, 14 TFL, 8 interceptions, and 31 PBU while allowing a 63% reception rate, 83.8 QBR, and just 8 TD across 79 games with another 2 interceptions and 2 PBU in the playoffs.
Round 7, 230th Overall: IOL Will Fries (248th overall)
Original Pick: IOL Jimmy Morrissey
- Morrissey never played in a game for the Raiders, but he’s carved a decent career as a depth center in the NFL playing in 15 games with 5 starts for the Texans and Colts with 4 starts coming in 2021. Meanwhile, Fries has built his way into a long term starting guard/center in the NFL with 48 starts across 58 games. He’s allowed just 10 sacks, 12 hits, and 99 pressures for a 2.7% career pressure rate across his time with the Vikings and Colts. Carving out a career as Morrissey has for a 7th rounder is impressive, but other options did exist.
