After a quiet as expected Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders were active on Day 2 and addressed key areas with added depth.
The Las Vegas Raiders made noise in the offseason as they trade for arguably the top wide receiver in the NFL: Davante Adams. The opportunity cost came in the form of the Raiders’ first and second-round picks in the 2022 draft, meaning that Vegas largely stood pat during round one Thursday night.
On day two, Las Vegas had their eyes set on the third round as they awaited their first selection at number 86. The new regime of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler has been active in bolstering the roster since their arrival, and the activity continued in round three as they traded back a few spots with the Tennessee Titans.
Tennessee selected Liberty quarterback Malik Willis with the 86th pick, while Vegas acquired the 90th and 169th pick in exchange.
With depth at the offensive line a key priority for the front office, the Raiders selected Dylan Parham, an interior offensive lineman out of Memphis.
2022 NFL Draft: Did the Las Vegas Raiders get it right on Day 2?
Pick No. 90: Dylan Parham
Vegas beefed up the offensive line by selecting Dylan Parham, whose experience and versatility will be a plus as the Raiders look to add depth upfront. Though scouts have Parham best suited at center, he lined up across the o-line in college, recording 28 starts at left guard, 12 at right guard, and 11 at right tackle.
The Raiders have him slotted as a guard, but the positional flexibility is a nice advantage.
Vegas currently has four linemen on the roster that started at guard for them last season: Denzelle Good, John Simpson, Jermaine Eluemunor, and last year’s first-round pick Alex Leatherwood. Regardless, McDaniels and Ziegler still opted to add Parham to the mix, which should only have more options to improve the unit overall.
With Leatherwood’s position at guard versus tackle still not yet solidified, drafting Parnham should give McDaniels and company a better sense of the best five-man unit upfront.
2022 NFL Draft: Did the Las Vegas Raiders get it right on Day 2?
Vegas adds depth and assets on Day 2
As the second and third rounds commenced, the Raiders had to enjoy the sequence of selections made ahead of them at pick no. 86. Vegas essentially had a variety of options and routes to go in addressing their areas of need and opted to trade back a few spots while still adding to the offensive line. The cherry on top was the additional draft asset in pick no. 169.
Following the conclusion of the third round, Ziegler clarified that Parham will have the opportunity to compete at both guard and center, and the Raiders’ newest addition confirmed just as much, adding that he’ll fit in wherever he’s needed.
His athleticism at center, guard, and tackle is what made him an appealing pick and he’ll have the immediate opportunity to provide that impact shortly. Adding that versatility while snatching another draft pick while you’re at it makes day two a success for Las Vegas.
Grade: A