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After three days, the Las Vegas Raiders completed their 2025 NFL draft, with the team adding 11 new players to its roster.
The Raiders made one of the more exciting selections in this year's draft with the pick of Boise State superstar running back, Ashton Jeanty, who addresses a big need in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas also addressed other key needs at cornerback and wide receiver, with the Raiders making a few picks at the latter position. Just in case you missed it, here's the Raiders' entire 2025 NFL draft haul.
Raiders 2025 NFL draft results
- Round 1: No. 58 - RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
- Round 2: No. 58 - WR Jack Beck, TCU
- Round 3: No. 68 - CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
- Round 3: No. 98 - G Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech
- Round 3: No. 99 - OT Charles Grant, Williams & Mary
- Round 4: No. 108 - WR Dont'e Thornton, Tennessee
- Round 4: No. 135 - DT Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina
- Round 6: No. 180 - DT JJ Pegues, Ole Miss
- Round 6: No. 213 - QB/WR Tommy Mellott, Montana State
- Round 6: No. 215 - QB Cam Miller, North Dakota State
- Round 7: No. 222 - LB Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
With the draft officially in the books, experts are putting out their grades for Las Vegas' class, and they are overwhelmingly positive, with one analyst even calling Las Vegas' draft a "masterpiece" (Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports).
MORE: Raiders UDFA signings tracker
Raiders NFL draft grades
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: A (ranked 5th)
Iyer: "The collaboration of Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly, and John Spytek made this team a mentally and physically tougher team. This offense is downright dangerous now with Jeanty helping Geno Smith and Bech being the ideal outside target to play well off Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. They also added some key wideout depth for the slot and a vertical threat. Porter has some shutdown potential, and they also didn't forget about interior line support for both sides. Watch out for Lindenberg acing special teams."
Kiper Jr.: "The Ashton Jeanty-Raiders connection has been out there for a while. I've been projecting the elite running back to Vegas since before the combine. As soon as the Raiders hired Pete Carroll and traded for quarterback Geno Smith, it made sense. Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards last season, but the even more impressive number is his 1,733 rushing yards after first contact. He has the contact balance, vision, elusiveness and speed to find a hole and go. Carroll has leaned on the run game in the past, and now he gets his Marshawn Lynch to dominate on the ground in the AFC West. The Raiders really needed to make a splash, too. They were last in rushing (3.6 yards per carry), and 33-year-old Raheem Mostert was at the top of the depth chart Thursday morning. I talk a lot about how teams should never take running backs in the first round, and this is the earliest we've seen one selected since Saquon Barkley went second in 2018. I'm lifting that philosophy for this pick. Jeanty was my No. 4 prospect. I'm OK with this one. The Raiders kept helping Smith and the offense, too. Jack Bech can make plays downfield and in tight coverage. And Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant provide instant depth to the offensive line. I love Grant's game in particular. The former high school wrestler is explosive and physical, and he has 34¾-inch length. If Las Vegas coaches him up, it might have something with him -- though it might take time. Even the sixth-round dart throw at Tommy Mellott -- a quarterback turned receiver -- could be interesting. His workout got scouts talking. Las Vegas averaged 17.8 points per game last season, 28th in the NFL. But this offensive unit could move the chains in 2025. Sign me up for Jeanty, Bech, Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers all day. It's easy to get excited about the offensive upgrades and forget about the defensive turnover, though. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Tre'von Moehrig and Robert Spillane losses could hurt. Darien Porter was the only defensive pick before Round 4. He's speedy, but he's still learning the cornerback position after switching from receiver. Tonka Hemingway is an undersized 3-technique, and I'm not positive how fellow defensive tackle JJ Pegues fits into the mix. I wonder if he's more of a fullback in the pros. Linebacker Cody Lindenberg is probably a special-teamer. One more note: I shouted this out Friday, but the pair of Day 2 trade-backs was good business. The Raiders traded Nos. 37 and 143 to Miami for Nos. 48, 98 and 135. Then, they traded back again, sending No. 48 to Houston for Nos. 58 and 99. Las Vegas took some swings in the late rounds because of these trades, and it ended up with 11 picks."
Reuter: "I suspected Jeanty's strength through contact and open-field burst wouldn't make it past the Raiders if he was still in the green room in Green Bay. General manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll hit the right notes with Bech at receiver and Rogers and Grant improving the offensive line. The Raiders needed at least two receivers in this draft, and they hit a home run with Thornton, an underutilized size/speed guy. Hemingway brings activity and Pegues size to the team's defensive line rotation. They picked both of the quarterbacks who played in the 2024 FCS Championship Game: Miller (North Dakota State) and Mellott (Montana State). Miller has potential as a reserve, and Mellott -- who put up elite workout numbers and ran routes as a receiver at his pro day -- was announced as a receiver when he was picked."
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: A- (ranked 3rd)
Davis: "No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty was one of this draft’s few apparent blue-chippers and should instantly catalyze what was the league’s worst ground game in 2024. Aside from being inspirational, second-rounder Jack Bech might immediately emerge as new QB Geno Smith’s top wide receiver. Third-rounders Darien Porter, a corner, and Charles Grant, an offensive tackle, could wind up as high-quality starters at mid-range draft cost. Seemingly nice debut by rookie GM John Spytek."
Trapasso: "Raiders new general manager John Spytek, take a bow. What a debut. Jeanty was one of the clear blue-chippers available in this class. Bech is one of the most complete receivers in the class who's going to rock in the middle of the field. Throw in the addition of Thornton, a 6-foot-5 burner with 4.30 speed, and Geno Smith should be popping champagne. Porter has immense upside because of his athleticism and length at cornerback, and Rogers possesses similar potential as a stellar athlete in his own right who played nearly 4,400 snaps in college at four positions. Pegues and especially Hemingway give the defense pass-rushing juice on the inside. I even compared Cam Miller to Brock Purdy. This is a masterpiece for a team that needed skill-position weapons on offense and depth on defense."
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