The Las Vegas Raiders will not pick until the No. 86 selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, and for those who have been watching, that is not a bad thing.
For the past few years, the Raiders franchise has struggled big time in the first round of the NFL Draft. In 2018, they hit the lotto with Kolton Miller, an offensive tackle from UCLA who struggled as a rookie but has gone on to be one of the best young players at his position in the NFL.
From there, it has been all downhill, as the franchise squander three first-round picks in 2019, bringing in Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs, and Johnathan Abram. Jacobs has become a solid NFL player, but Ferrell and Abram are two guys who could be done in the Silver and Black once their rookie contracts are up.
Then there was the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, which has proven to be a nightmare, as both players selected in the first round are no longer with the franchise. Last year, Las Vegas rolled the dice on Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, and he struggled so much that he ended the season as a guard.
In 2022, there is no first-round pick, or second rounder for that matter, which could end up being a great thing for the new regime at the helm of the franchise.
Raiders need to be patient in the 2022 NFL Draft
As stated above, this is a new regime, as David Ziegler takes over as general manager, and Josh McDaniels as head coach. For the last couple of years, it had been Jon Gruden calling the shots, so it will be interesting to see what kind of strategy Ziegler has going into his first draft in this new role for him.
The advice I would give Ziegler is to be patient, and that will help him avoid the yearly reach that has become a weakness for this Raiders franchise. Las Vegas does not pick until the No. 86 overall selection, and based on team need, they could still get a starting-caliber player in the third round.
3 Big moves the Las Vegas Raiders can still make this offseason
The Las Vegas Raiders have done a nice job stacking talent on their roster this offseason, but they could still make a few big moves prior to the NFL Draft.
The offensive line and cornerback have to be the biggest areas of need for the Raiders going into this draft, and there is enough talent at those spots for them to bring in a quality player in the third round. If Ziegler and company can stay patient, the chips could fall in their favor, and based on the talent the franchise has already brought in this offseason, a strong draft is the final piece of what should be at least a playoff puzzle.