The NFL Draft is approaching April 24-26 outside historic Lambeau Field and its adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, Wisconsin. NFL teams are preparing for the draft following the NFL combine, which concluded March 2. A number of players improved their stock and draft position, and other key player additions and trades were made during NFL free agency including the Las Vegas Raiders adding their new starting quarterback Geno Smith. He’s part of the Raiders positive profiles from Pro Football Focus grades for teams that got better during NFL free agency.
The Tennessee Titans have the No. 1 overall pick, and Miami U quarterback Cam Ward is now the overwhelming favorite (-1300) to be the top pick in the draft, according to NFL Draft odds on FanDuel Sportsbook. Penn State star defensive end Abdul Carter (+650) is more than 6/1 to be the No. 1 overall pick, and -300 favorite to be taken No. 2 overall in Round 1 by the Cleveland Browns, who have also had rotating quarterbacks for decades (40 since 1999 return to Cleveland) with only four winning seasons and three playoff appearances since 2002.
At the March 31 owners meeting, the Browns finally admitted to their disastrous decision to trade for QB Deshawn Watson in March, 2022. The Browns sent three first round draft picks to Houston and signed Watson to more guaranteed money than anyone in NFL history at the time with a five-year, $230 million contract. That despite Watson facing dozens of lawsuits for sexual misconduct.
“We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Florida.
Raiders QB History
The Raiders took a step forward with the signing of Geno Smith to stop their quarterback conundrum since franchise-leading QB Derek Carr was released two years ago. Smith’s signing should allow the Raiders to focus on other positional needs rather than more serious consideration of drafting a quarterback at No. 6 in Round 1 this year.
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Raiders PFF Grades
The Raiders are one of seven teams that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2024 regular season, joining the Bears, Cowboys Patriots, Jaguars, Jets and Saints. Those teams are permitted to begin offseason workout programs April 7, two weeks earlier than other teams. Pete Carroll turns 74 years old in September and will be the oldest head coach in NFL history. But his passion and persistence remains strong as he’s been busy with new general manager John Spytek building the Raiders roster to be able to compete and perform at a higher level since he was hired as the Raiders new coach in late January.
Carroll’s "Always Compete" mantra is being embraced in Vegas, with owner Mark Davis, new minority owner all-time great QB Tom Brady and new general manager John Spytek the latest trio to tackle the Raiders past problems and move them towards more touchdowns and triumphs.
The Raiders haven’t won a division title or a postseason game since 2002. They have gone through 11 full time head coaches during that span and made just two playoff appearances.
Here’s the most recent players signed by the Raiders with more coming along with April’s NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders
Signed: S Jeremy Chinn (two years, over $16 million)
Signed: G Alex Cappa (two years, $11 million)
Signed: CB Eric Stokes (one year, $4 million)
Signed: LB Elandon Roberts (one year, $3 million)
Signed: RB Raheem Mostert (one year, $2.1 million)
Signed: LB Devin White
Signed: S Lonnie Johnson, Jr.
Traded for: QB Geno Smith
Re-signed: EDGE Malcolm Koonce (one year, $12 million)
Re-signed: DI Adam Butler (three years, $16.5 million)
Re-signed: CB Darnay Holmes (one year)
Extended: EDGE Maxx Crosby (three years, $106.5 million)
Extended: S Isaiah Pola-Mao (two years, up to $8.45 million)
Released: QB Gardner Minshew
Released: C Andrew James
Pro Football Focus notes: Trading for Geno Smith immediately makes the Raiders better. Smith had been excellent for the Seahawks in his three years as a starter, completing 68.5% of his passes for 12,226 passing yards and 71 touchdowns, earning a 79.0 grade or better in all three seasons, all behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Solving the Raiders quarterback issues, and reuniting Smith with Pete Carroll is an instant win.
Re-signing Malcolm Koonce, who missed all of the 2024 season, while also extending Maxx Crosby to a monster deal keeps the defensive line as a strong point of the roster. Jeremy Chinn will go some way to replacing the loss of Moehrig. Although, without Hobbs, Moehrig, and Robert Spillane, the defense is a little worse off. But the Raiders have a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft, so there’s a chance they could add another day-one contributor.
Raiders NFL Draft Prospects
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is expected to be a top 3-4 pick as a WR/CB before the Raiders pick at No. 6 in Round 1. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders is expected to still be available, but more draft analysts see him as a risk and one the Raiders should likely pass on with none of the five ESPN pro football draft analysts rating Sanders as a top-10 prospect in this years draft.
Instead, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is a target of the Raiders, and FanDuel Sportsbook has Jeanty (-105) the favorite to be picked by the Raiders followed by the Bears (+140).
The Raiders will be much more focused on running the ball in 2025 with improved offensive line play, coach Carroll’s philosophy and approach along with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly incorporating a faster-paced offense instilling a stronger running game with zone read and read option, allowing for a more dynamic and unpredictable passing game.
Jeanty to the Raiders would make him a top betting target for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Top prospects that could fit the Raiders needs and provide an impact as starter in 2025 include:
Ashton Jeanty - RB, Boise State
Jalon Walker - LB/Edge, Georgia
Will Johnson - CB, Michigan
Tetairoa McMillan - WR, Arizona
Will Campbell - OT/G, LSU
Armand Membou - OT, Missouri
Pete Carroll had a lengthy press interview with reporters March 31 at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
Questions about the team, draft, players and rigors of the AFC West and top coaches were answered head on by Carroll, wh0’s authentic demeanor and approach should wear off well on the Raiders players and organization.
“The challenges are enormous," Carroll said. "We’re going to be ready for whatever comes. The harder it is, the better it is for us to get good.”
The Raiders added veteran NFL and college coach Chip Kelly in early February to be the teams offensive coordinator. Las Vegas also recently added Ryan Paganetti as their Head Coach Research Specialist, a role that will focus on game management and analytics. Ryan is the the brother of T.J. Paganetti, assistant run game coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who were top-2 in the NFL in rushing and attempts in 2024 with 2,000-yard leading rusher Saquon Barkley. T.J. Paganetti was recently hired as the New Orleans Saints run game coordinator.
"Pete only knows one way, which is, 'Let’s go. We’re trying to win right now. We’re going to compete right now,’" Spytek said on a recent Upon Further Review podcast. “And I only know one way too. We can be intelligently aggressive and bring the right kind of people and players into this building and stack it up to the point where we are a formidable foe.”
Raider Nation is moving forward with the best years ahead, according to Spytek.
"Once we have that rolling here in Vegas, people are going to want to be a part of it."
NFL Draft Order 2025
Round 1
Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns
New York Giants
New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Chicago Bears
San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys
Miami Dolphins
Indianapolis Colts
Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Denver Broncos
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Baltimore Ravens
Detroit Lions
Washington Commanders
Buffalo Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles
Follow the latest NFL news and betting insight at FanDuel, and the league’s important dates for 2025 as the Las Vegas Raiders new regime sets a standard of winning ways for the Silver and Black.
You can bet on it.
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