Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler and his staff stuck to their plan in acquiring a mixture of talented players that should be cornerstones of the building process.
Football
General manager Dave Ziegler voiced excitement on the Raiders’ nine-player draft class, but also conceded that the team couldn’t address every need on the roster.
Former UNLV defensive lineman Adam Plant was among nine undrafted free agents the Raiders signed Saturday after the conclusion of the NFL draft.
Who are the nine players the Raiders selected in the NFL draft, and what are analysts saying about the selections?
“My family and friends always made me feel like I was the best quarterback in the world even when I wasn’t,” Aidan O’Connell said.
The Raiders took Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, projected to be a first-round pick, with the 35th selection overall in the second round of Friday’s NFL draft.
The Raiders’ first-round pick Tyree Wilson, drafted with the seventh pick overall, speaks to the Las Vegas media on Friday.
The Raiders have selected Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson with the seventh pick in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft.
Armed with 12 picks, including the seventh overall and five among the first 109, the Raiders are positioned to make significant inroads in improving their roster.
The Raiders could be interested in C.J. Stroud or Anthony Richardson with the seventh pick, but the defense needs an influx of talent, so Devon Witherspoon is a better choice.
The Raiders have not ruled out selecting a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft, or even trading up for one.
Of all the Raiders’ pressing needs on defense, the secondary needs the most help. So look for that to be a priority in the NFL draft, perhaps with their first-round pick.
In court documents filed last week, lawyers for former Raiders coach Jon Gruden argued that the NFL cannot use his terminated contract to force him into arbitration.
Former Raiders defensive end Chris Smith, who appeared in eight games for the team in 2020, has died, according to a tweet by his high school alma mater.
Josh Jacobs, who hasn’t signed his franchise tag tender, missed the first day of workouts as the Raiders began their second offseason program under coach Josh McDaniels.