Raiders 2022 NFL Draft: Analyzing and Grading each selection

The Raiders had the 126th overall pick, but they didn’t want to wait that long. As such, they elected to trade up with Minnesota, acquiring pick no.122.

Now on the clock, Las Vegas selected Zamir White.

One day before White became a Raider, it was announced the Silver and Black will not be picking up any of the fifth-year options from the three first-round picks in the 2019 NFL draft, which includes starting running back Josh Jacobs. As such, Raider Nation has put two and two together, concluding White is Jacobs’ replacement.

This logic only makes sense. On top of Jacobs’ fifth-year option being declined, the Raiders had four running backs on the roster coming into the draft, which is already a good size, to begin with. That wasn’t necessarily why White was selected, though.

There are two things to consider here.

1. Dave Ziegler stated he’ll be targeting the best player available for most of the draft. When the draft had concluded, he doubled down on that statement, claiming the Georgie running back was the selection due to him being the top player on the board, per the organization.
2. Each of the four running backs on the roster before the draft is entering free agency next year. This not only includes Jacobs, but his sidekick Kenyan Drake, and projected third-down back Brandon Bolden.

When we take these things into account, it’s not much of a surprise that running back had been targeted in the draft. In fact, I had already predicted such a move would come to pass, due to the above reasoning.

In all likelihood, both Drake and Jacobs aren’t getting paid by the Raiders next season, but there’s nothing that suggests it will be the latter who doesn’t return.

When it comes to White’s production, he’s tallied 2,043 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground over three seasons. In each of the last two years, White has had 11 rushing touchdowns, constantly proving he has a nose for the end zone. There were a few quality running back Raiders could’ve rolled with around this time, and Las Vegas decided [Zamir] White was their guy.

• Grade: B