The Las Vegas Raiders are making moves in free agency and here is a mock draft based on the additions in recent weeks
Las Vegas Raiders have been one of the busier teams in free agency as they continue to build up the roster on both sides of the ball. The early free agency signings were focused on the offense as they brought in a new quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo and a few weapons for him in Jakobi Meyers and Philip Dorsett.
Since then, they have added a few other weapons on offense but have focused primarily on defense, particularly on defensive backs. The defensive backfield was one of the weaknesses for the Raiders in 2022 so it makes sense that it would become a focus in this off-season.
With all of these moves, we can imagine that the Raiders’ draft plans will be altered quite a bit so we will do our best to examine the moves and present you with an updated mock draft based on those moves.
Let’s jump right into another edition of a full seven-round mock draft for your Las Vegas Raiders.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
7. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
It seems like every week there is a new quarterback at the top of the draft boards and with several teams in the top five that need quarterbacks, it makes sense that there is a bit of a carousel at the moment. In this particular mock draft, Anthony Richardson out of Florida is available to the Raiders with the 7th overall pick and he makes perfect sense as the selection here.
The signing of Jimmy Garoppolo allows the Raiders to be patient and take their time in developing a quarterback and they hope to do just that with Anthony Richardson. They can start Garoppolo for this season and perhaps even in 2024 and continue to develop Richardson as a prospect.
The Florida quarterback is the most physically gifted quarterback of the bunch and his 2023 NFL Scout Combine workout has become legendary. There are some concerns about his footwork and accuracy but if he is given a full season to learn before being asked to take on the starting role, then he can be set up for success when he’s ready to take over the team.
The Raiders will be betting big on his upside as a physical marvel and can look at the blueprint in Baltimore or Philadelphia to build a contender around a QB with his unique skill set.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
38. Gervon Dexter DT Florida
The Raiders’ pursuit of a dominant defensive tackle continues and in this mock, we double up on the Florida Gators by selecting Gervon Dexter with the 38th overall pick. Dexter looks the part of an elite interior lineman as he measures in at 6-5 and 310 lbs and has elite athleticism to boot.
Dexter did not blow us away at the NFL Combine but before the season he was on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List thanks to his incredible strength and size.
Feldman wrote “This is a huge man who moves well at 6-5 1/2, 313 pounds with 24 percent body fat. Dexter squats 655 pounds and benches 425. Gervon is a unique body type with an elite mixture of height, length, and muscle makeup. He’s strong enough to hold the point and quick enough to affect the QB, making him an every-down QB nightmare”.
Dexter is known for having a quick first step and his strength will allow him to hold up at the point of the tack and absorb double teams. In a perfect world, he is playing the Chris Jones role on the Raiders’ defense and is causing havoc both inside and outside. His presence will free up Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones and he can quickly become the foundation for the Raiders’ defense.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
70. Tyrique Stevenson CB Miami
Despite signing a few notable cornerbacks in Duke Shelley and David Long, the Raiders still need some depth at the position, especially with the amount of turnover and injuries that happen in the defensive backfield. Adding a player like Tyrique Stevenson to the position group would be an excellent move at this point in the draft.
Stevenson started his career at Georgia before transferring to Miami and becoming one of the best players on the Hurricanes’ defense. He looks like a prototypical outside corner because of his measurables and he runs a solid 4.45 second 40. He’s great in press coverage and is strong enough to move receivers off their spots though he does need to work on his tendency to grab and pull at receivers.
The benefit of signing those veteran players is that Stevenson will not have to come in and start right away and he can develop as the season goes along. We can expect him to become a starter at some point during the season but drafting him here and the other players ahead of him takes the pressure off of the young DB.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
100. Mohamoud Diabate LB Utah
The Raiders made a like-for-like replacement for Denzel Perryman with the addition of Robert Spillane from the Pittsburgh Steelers but there is still a need for a linebacker that excels in pass coverage. Mohamoud Diabate out of Utah fits that bill and he has the size, speed, and coverage ability to make an impact right away in the NFL.
Diabate measured in at 6-4 and 229 lb and he ran a very impressive 4.53 second 40. Scouts are split on his ceiling as a pro but they do agree that he is a very good player in past coverage and has the speed to keep up with most wide receivers and tight ends. He showed a little bit of pass-rush ability with seven sacks in his senior season and the Raiders could deploy him as a situational pass-rusher as well.
The former Utah star will need to bulk up a bit if he is going to be playing on the edge but his current size and frame would do well as an off-ball linebacker. He would likely be third in the rotation behind Spillane and Divine Deablo and could make his way into the starting lineup in three linebacker formations.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
109. Tyler Steen OL Alabama
The Raiders are shuffling the deck a bit at the offensive guard position and in this mock draft, they used the 109th overall pick on Tyler Steen out of Alabama. Steen played primarily right tackle and left tackle in college but his measurables suggest he may be a guard at the pro level.
Steen has great height at 6-6 and great size at 321lbs but his arm length and wingspan are in the bottom 15% at the position. This suggests that he would struggle out on the edge in space but his size and bulk could allow him to excel as an interior offensive lineman.
We’ve talked several times about Josh McDaniels looking for bigger offensive guards and steam certainly fits that bill. He showed great strength with 31 reps on the bench press at the combine, good enough for the 91st percentile, and that could translate to success on the Interior right away.
He won’t have to start at RG right away if the Raiders roll with Netane Muti or Hroniss Grasu but he can take over that role with a great camp.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
141. K.J. Henry EDGE Clemson
After grabbing a potentially dominant defensive tackle in the second round, the Raiders use the 141st overall pick on a guy that would benefit greatly from Gervon Dexter’s presence in the middle. Chandler Jones is not going anywhere anytime soon but we need a successor for him and KJ Henry out of Clemson could be precisely that guy.
Henry measures in at 6-4 and 251 lbs which is a bit light for a three-down defensive end but he has great speed having run a 4.63 40 and has shown solid pass rush ability in college with 10 sacks over his last two seasons. His initial role would be as a situational pass rusher and he could be given time to bulk up to hold up better against the run.
Scouts rave about his ability to read and react to playfakes and believe that he can make an impact right away in obvious passing situations. He is clearly a developmental player but he could certainly add some juice to the Raiders’ front seven with his speed and athleticism.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
144. Jake Andrews OC Troy
After grabbing a guard early in the draft, we use the 144th overall selection on a potential replacement for Andre James at center. James has been rumored as a potential cap casualty but even if the Raiders do not move on from him, they need a backup and depth at that position.
Jake Andrews out of Troy is a small school prospect that has been making his way up the draft boards this off-season. Andrews is a bit undersized at 6-2 and 305 lbs but he makes up for it with great strength and solid athleticism. He ran a 5.15 second 40 which puts him in the 73rd percentile and put up 29 reps on the bench press which is in the 72nd percentile at his position.
Perhaps what we like best about Andrews is the mean streak that he shows at the point of attack. He plays the position with a nastiness and edge that we love to see from an offensive lineman and he makes up for his size deficiency with a high motor and great effort.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
174. Payne Durham TE Purdue
The Raiders tight end room looks very different with the departure of Darren Waller and Foster Moreau and the arrivals of OJ Howard and Austin hooper in recent weeks. Although Howard and Hooper were just signed, there’s no guarantee that Howard will make this team and the Raiders may feel they can upgrade on the third tight end spot which is currently occupied by Jasper Horsted.
Payne Durham out of Purdue has the size that you look for in a tight end as he stands at 6-5 and 253 lb and he has a large wingspan that allows him to make tough catches and hold up well as a blocker. He doesn’t have elite speed with a 4.87 40 but he has soft hands and runs well for a guy his size.
At this point, he may be nothing more than a depth addition but he will be given every opportunity to win a roster spot because of how much Josh McDaniels loves to operate in multiple tight end sets.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
204. Derius Davis, WR TCU
This point in the draft is when things can get a little crazy and the Raiders can gamble on intriguing players with obvious flaws. One of those guys is undersized wide receiver Derius Davis out of TCU.
Davis is one of the smallest players in the draft as he measures in at 5-8 and 165lbs but he’s also one of the fastest players having run a 4.36 40 at the NFL combine. The Raiders’ receiver room is a bit crowded at the moment but Davis could win a roster spot due to his explosive ability on special teams.
He would have to beat out the incumbent DJ Turner who was unspectacular in 2022 and we believe Davis has the tools needed to do just that.
Because of his size and limited route tree, we don’t expect Davis to become every down player or even a regular contributor on offense, but he has world-class speed that can be utilized on gadget plays or on special teams. Having a potential game-breaker return kicks and punts would be an excellent addition to this team and we all know how much the Raiders love speed.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
214. Moro Ojomo DT Texas
In this mock draft, we use the 214th overall pick to add a bit more depth to the defensive line for the raiders. Moro Ojomo out of Texas is a classic undersized defensive lineman who has certain elite athletic traits and plays with a high motor.
Ojomo measures in at 6-2 and 292 ls but he has a wingspan in the 92nd percentile and showed great strength with 29 reps on the bench press. He plays bigger than his size because of that strength and wingspan and could be a contributor right away as a rotational defensive tackle.
We have seen him drafted anywhere from the 4th round to the 7th in several mock drafts and he appears to be of great value at this spot in the draft. His intelligence and strength allow him to make plays others can’t and it will be interesting to see if this can translate to the NFL level.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
220. Nick Hampton LB Appalachian State
The Raiders linebacker group is quite thin even with the addition of Mohamoud Diabate earlier in this draft so we use the 220th overall pick on Nick Hampton out of Appalachian State. Hampton is considered a bit undersized at the position at 6-2 and 236 lbs but that may be because he is officially listed as a linebacker/edge rusher in his draft designation.
Hampton has great speed at 4.58 seconds and is a guy that made Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List because of his athleticism. He may be an anunder-the-radarr draft prospect because of where he played but if his athleticism translates to the next level and he could be a diamond in the rough.
There are some concerns about his overall strength and the fact that he is not an elite pass rusher but he could perhaps play as an off-ball linebacker and make a difference for the Raiders. There are plenty of things to like about this young man and grabbing him at this point in the draft could be an absolute steal.
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: AR15 lands in Vegas
231. Tanner McCalister CB Ohio State
We wrap up this edition of the Just Blog Baby mock draft by grabbing another defensive back in Tanner McCalister out of Ohio State. McCalister started his career with Oklahoma State before becoming a Buckeye as a 5th-year senior.
McCalister is a bit undersized at 5-11 and 192lbs but he makes up for it with great speed having run a 4.44 second 40 at his Pro day. His quarterback rating when targeted last season was an elite 48.9 and he has shown a willingness to make plays in the run game.
There are some concerns about him playing a bit out of control and he has a tendency to miss tackles when going for a big hit but that can be coached out of him. He is definitely a developmental player but given some of the struggles the Raiders have had at safety then he is worth the gamble.