After not getting much from their 2022 rookie class, the Raiders needed to hit a home run during the 2023 draft. The overall talent on the roster was declining and they desperately needed an influx of youth, especially on defense.
So far, it appears that the Raiders were able to accomplish that after one season. In a recent article by Chad Reuter of NFL.com, he graded all 32 rookie classes after Year 1.
The Raiders got a “B” grade from Reuter, mostly because of the number of rookies that had an impact during the 2023 season. Here is a snippet of what he had to say about the Day 2 pass catchers that the Raiders selected:
Day 2 picks (Michael) Mayer (27-304-11.3, two TDs) and (Tre) Tucker (19-331-17.4, two TDs) stepped in to contribute as rookies. There’s reason to believe they’ll be a big part of the passing game in 2024 and beyond, with Mayer a solid move-the-chains tight end and Tucker looking explosive in the slot.
The Raiders are very hopeful that Mayer and Tucker can become key components of their passing attack next season. Mayer was regarded as one of the top tight ends in the class and played well before a toe injury sent him to the injured reserve list.
The hope is that Tyree Wilson can make a big leap in Year 2 after he improved by leaps and bounds in the second half of the season. If he can continue that upward trajectory, this could be a franchise-changing draft class for the Raiders.
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