Raiders fans have likely become a little spoiled around draft time each year in recent years. When they selected Tre’von Moehrig at 43 overall last year, it was their lowest second pick in any draft since 2018. And in total the team has had a combined eight picks in the top 43 over the past three years.
Those days ended this year in a big way.
This year their first pick won’t come until twice as long as their previous longest wait. They are currently not set to be on the clock until pick 86.
I mentioned that Raiders fans were spoiled around draft time by all these high picks in each draft. But come a year later or two years later, all that giddy anticipation was rarely rewarded.
Of those eight picks, maybe three of them can be called successes — Moehrig, Josh Jacobs, and Trayvon Mullen. The other five are have yet to really arrive or are certain missteps.
There have been some rousing successes for the Raiders, and many of them have occurred right in the range where the Raiders have four picks in this draft.
The Raiders have a total of five picks, with four of them coming in a 90-pick stretch between the third and fifth round.
While that range hasn’t excited many fans in the draft leadup, it certainly has given Raiders fans in particular plenty to cheer for in the months and years after those picks were made.
Here’s the list:
WR Lynn Bowden Jr (80)
LB Divine Deablo (80)
WR Bryan Edwards (81)
LB Tanner Muse (100)
DE Maxx Crosby (104)
G John Simpson (109)
CB Isaiah Johnson (129)
TE Foster Moreau (137)
CB Amik Robertson (139)
S Tyree Gillespie (143)
WR Hunter Renfrow (149)
CB Nate Hobbs (167)
That’s 12 players over the past three drafts. And most of them (7) were either full or part-time starters last season — Deablo, Edwards, Crosby, Simpson, Moreau, Renfrow, and Hobbs.
Getting seven starters in a range between the mid-third round and late fifth round is outstanding. Especially when you consider the likes of star-caliber performers such as Crosby, Renfrow, and Hobbs who were all selected outside the top 100.
Those three drafts, of course, were made under former GM Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden. That is understood. But that doesn’t mean Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels can’t find success in that range as well. If they can find even one or two starting-caliber players along with the addition of Davante Adams, fans will forget the long wait for their first draft pick.
Just a little positivity to start your draft day festivities.
See who I predict the Raiders will select in my seven-round Raiders mock draft.
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