Las Vegas Raiders: 2019 NFL Draft brought cornerstone players on Day 3

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 and cornerback Nate Hobbs #39 of the Las Vegas Raiders run on the field as they celebrate Crosby’s sack of quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the third quarter of their game at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Las Vegas Raiders may have struggled early on in the 2019 NFL Draft, but a few of their Day 3 selections have become foundational players.

It is not often that an NFL team can strike gold on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, as rounds 4-through-7 can bring solid talent, but usually not foundational players like the Raiders got in 2019. Sure, Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick, but that was over 20 years ago, and no team has replicated that kind of selection since.

During that 2019 NFL Draft, all the talk surrounding the Raiders was about their first-round haul, as the Silver and Black had three selections on Day 1 that year. Starting with pick No. 4 overall, the Raiders had a golden opportunity to jumpstart this franchise, one that had been one of the worst in the NFL the prior season.

With an arsenal of early picks at his disposal, Jon Gruden was intent on changing the culture of the Raiders, a team that had made the playoffs only twice since he was traded to Tampa Bay. However, the Raiders did not capitalize on all of their draft capital, picking Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 overall, a player who has become a depth guy ever since.

While the first round brought Josh Jacobs, who has been a Pro Bowler, and really came on strong during the team’s playoff run, the selection of Ferrell, and even Johnathan Abram have to be seen as misses. Luckily for the Raiders, Gruden dominated on Day 3.

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