The Las Vegas Raiders hold five of the first 109 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, but will they keep those picks, or swing some big draft day trades?
For the Las Vegas Raiders, the 2023 offseason has brought much change, from the quarterback position to special teams. General manager David Ziegler has come in and stripped the roster down, adding some quality talent and getting rid of some of the faces of the franchise.
One face in particular was quarterback Derek Carr, who, after nine seasons at the helm, was released by the team after the season. It was clear that he was not a fit with Josh McDaniels, and now, Carr will try to lead the New Orleans Saints back to the top of the NFC South.
In our latest 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft for the Raiders, Ziegler gets the party started early, trading down with the Green Bay Packers in Round 1. Ziegler has not been afraid to pull the trigger on big deals before, and here, he keeps true to form, changing the landscape of the draft for the Silver and Black.
With that said, let us dive into our latest 7-round Raiders mock draft.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
15 Calijah Kancey DL | Pittsburgh
As we noted in the previous slide, the Raiders traded down with the Green Bay Packers and instead of picking 7th, they select in the 15th overall slot. This ends the chances of them grabbing one of the top quarterbacks in the draft and we can instead focus on one of the better defenders in defensive lineman Calijah Kancey out of Pittsburgh.
Kancey does not look like your typical defensive tackle as he is only 6-1 and 281lbs but because of his build and the school he went to, he is being compared to one of the deep best defensive players of all time in Aaron Donald. What he does similar to Donald is attack the quarterback and in his past two seasons, he has racked up 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss.
The former Panther fills an immediate need as a pass-rushing defensive tackle and he could pair nicely with the recently acquired John Jenkins who is a run-stuffing tackle.
If the Raiders can look past some of the size concerns then grabbing Kancey with the 15th overall pick could help transform their defense into an elite pass rushing unit. He won a ton of awards in his final season and he will bring an elite mentality and incredible talent to a defensive unit that certainly needs both.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
38 Hendon Hooker QB | Tennessee
After trading down in the first round and missing out on the top quarterback prospects, we find ourselves linked yet again to Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. There are some that believe that Hooker will be a first-round pick but we have seen guys slide for a multitude of reasons and we believe that his health and age will see him drop to the second round come draft weekend.
If Hooker was fully healthy then we believe he could easily be a top 16 pick but an ACL injury at the end of the 2022 season has hurt his stock and not allowed him to work out this offseason. The other knock on him is his age as he is one of the older prospects in this draft having spent six years in college.
However, in this era quarterbacks are playing longer than ever and if he becomes the starter for the Raiders at age 26 then he could easily remain in that position for 10 years. He has the size you look for in a quarterback at 6-3 and 220 pounds and his numbers the last two seasons are excellent.
He has hovered around 70% completion rate and has thrown just five interceptions his last two seasons along with 58 touchdowns.
The Raiders have the luxury of having a starting quarterback in the building in Jimmy Garoppolo and could bring Hooker along slowly. He can learn the offense from Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer and be ready to take the reins in 2024.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
70 Clark Phillips III CB | Utah
With the 70th overall pick we grab a player with a great pedigree in Clark Phillips III out of Utah. Phillips was the highest ranked recruit in Utah history and he lived up to his billing with two great seasons in 2021 and 2022.
The California native had his best season in 2022 as he finished the year with 12 passes defended 6 interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. He was a unanimous All-American and was first team all PAC 12 while leading the conference in interceptions. He is a bit small at 5-9 and 185 pounds, but he makes up for it with 4.5 speed and nearly 20 reps on the bench press.
The 40 time is not elite but Phillips has the speed to keep up with most wide receivers and the strength to not get bullied by some of the big boys in the NFL. Scouts praise his ability to read and react to what the offense is doing and think he is ahead of the curve on the mental side of the game and as a result he could contribute immediately as a nickel or inside cornerback.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
78 Tucker Kraft TE | South Dakota State
We have covered in our last few mocks that the Raiders tight end room has some solid talent but there is always room for more. The two free agent additions in OJ Howard and Austin Hooper signed short term contracts and the Raiders could be on the hunt for a long-term answer at the position. That's where Tucker Kraft out of South Dakota State comes in the picture.
Kraft is trying to follow in the footsteps of Dallas Goedert as a South Dakota State alumnus to make an impact in the NFL as a tight end and he certainly looks the part. He measures in at 6-5 and 260 pounds with an impressive 80 inch wingspan and a 4.62 40. The former Jack Rabbit has the athleticism to contribute at the next level but will need some time to become a more refined route runner.
Scouts compare him favorably to Foster Moreau who was a solid player for the Raiders though he did have some issues with drops at times. They also believe he has the tenacity to be an effective blocker at the NFL level and would have the luxury of developing behind the two aforementioned tight ends.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
100 Sydney Brown S | Illinois
The Raiders have been looking for a safety with great ball skills and a nose for turnovers and they find one In this mock draft with the 100th overall pick. Sydney Brown out of Illinois is a tremendously experienced college player who has a ton of individual awards and put up big numbers in 2022.
Brown racked up 13 passes defended, six interceptions, was named First Team All-Big Ten and was a member of the All-American Second team. He is another defensive back that is a bit on the small side at 5-9 but he is very well built at 211 pounds. He ran a 4.47 40 at the combine and put up an impressive 23 reps on the bench press which is great for his position.
There are some concerns about his flexibility and change of direction ability, but he makes up for it with his physicality and strength. His speed is more than adequate at his position, and he has the temperament and intelligence to play as a free safety or box safety depending on the formation. His immediate future looks to be contributing on special teams but given the high turnover teams usually experience in the defensive backfield, he could be called on for a bigger role later in his rookie season.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
109 Zach Harrison EDGE | Ohio State
with the 109th overall pick in this mock draft, the Raiders select one of the most athletic players in the draft and Zach Harrison out of Ohio State. Harrison has prototypical size at 6-6 and 275 pounds and was one of the freak athletes on display at the combine.
The former Buckeye has run a 4.41 second forty in the past and at his pro day showed off a broad jump in the 90th percentile to go along with arms and a wingspan in the top 10%. If you were to build a defensive end in a lab they might end up looking just like Zach Harrison.
The concerns about Harrison are if his athleticism can translate to more than just running in a straight line and if he can work on some technique and leverage issues. In an ideal situation these flaws could be remedied with great coaching and it always makes sense to bet on athleticism.
He could end up being a very athletic bust but if he learns from Crosby and Jones then he could be and an incredible weapon for this Raiders defense.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
141 Nick Broeker IOL | Mississippi
We talk a lot about positional versatility among offensive lineman being extremely valuable and Nick Broeker out of Ole Miss is another great example of this. As a three-star recruit, Broeker played offensive line, defensive end, and tight end in high school and in college he played both left tackle and left guard.
The former Rebels star projects as a guard at the next level because of his build at 6-4 and 305 pounds and that is the position where he was a second team all-American and second team all-SEC player. His experience at left tackle would allow him to fill in there as needed though that is not where he would be most effective at the pro level.
Scouts love his nasty demeanor when blocking and believe that he has the quickness and technique to hold up at the point of attack in the NFL. There are some concerns about his functional strength and size but that could be addressed with an NFL strength training program.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
144 Andrew Vorhees IOL | USC
With the 144th overall pick, the Raiders select another incredibly versatile offensive lineman In Andrew Vorhees out of USC. Voorhees played four of the five positions on the offensive line while at USC and has many of the traits you look for in an offensive lineman.
The former Trojan has the build of an offensive tackle at 6-6 and 310 pounds but his arms and wingspan are in the bottom 20% for the position so he likely projects as a guard at the next level. He does of course have plenty of experience at both tackle positions so he could step in as a swing tackle if need be.
Vorhees suffered a knee injury at the NFL combine but before he did so he showed off solid athleticism in the vertical and broad jump. He also put up a ridiculous 38 reps on the bench press after the injury and uses that strength well in the run game. There are some concerns about his speed and quickness which would only be exacerbated by the knee injury but there is a lot to love about him as a prospect especially at this point in the draft.
He could take over either guard spot or provide backup to both tackle spots in a pinch.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
149 Owen Pappoe LB | Auburn
The last of the picks acquired from the Green Bay Packers, the Raiders select linebacker Owen Pappoe out of Auburn with the 149th overall pick. Pappoe was one of the stars of the combine as he ran a 4.39 40, was in the 92nd percentile in the broad jump, and put up a very impressive 29 reps on the bench press.
The Raiders are in need of some explosiveness at the linebacker position and a duo of Pappoe and Divine Deablo would give them one of the more athletic groups in the NFL. There are some concerns about his size at 6-0 and 225 pounds but we have seen other smaller linebackers like Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen shine in this era of the NFL.
The other concerns about Pappoe are that his athletic skills did not translate into dominance at the college level but at this point in the draft you are betting on physical traits and athletic upside. We were surprised that he was still available at this point in the draft and we expect him to be a second or third round pick come draft weekend.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
174 Xavier Hutchinson WR | Iowa State
We have discussed several times about the logjam at wide receiver on the Raiders depth chart but since we are focusing on best player available, we can still draft one in the later rounds of the draft. With that in mind we use the 174th overall selection on wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson out of Iowa State.
The former Cyclone is not going to overwhelm you with athleticism or his physical traits, but he has a solid build at 6-2 and 205 pounds and was one of the most productive wide receivers in college. In 2022, he had 107 catches for nearly 1200 yards in 12 games and in 2021 he had 83 catches for 990 yards which would be impressive for an NFL season.
Hutchinson received a long list of awards including being named to The Associated Press first team All-American team and he looks the part of an NFL wide receiver. He has excellent hands and is a competent catch and run threat due to his great route running and ability to create separation. His lack of high end athletic traits could see him drop considerably but as we have seen many times, the best athletes don't always make for the best wide receivers.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
204 Garrett Williams CB | Syracuse
After grabbing a big body wide receiver we return to the defensive side of the ball and the defensive backfield with the selection of Garrett Williams out of Syracuse. Williams is a talented cornerback prospect who may not be available at this point in the draft in real life but we enjoy the value of picking him at 204th overall.
Williams has your typical cornerback build at 5-10 and 192 pounds and has what you would call acceptable athleticism with a 40 time and other measurables around the 50th percentile. Where he stands out is his strength as he put up 19 reps on the bench press and his flexibility and explosion.
Scouts rave about his quick twitch athleticism as well as his excellent ball skills which he was not able to display much because quarterbacks would simply avoid throwing to his side. There are some concerns about his recovery from an ACL injury last season and he can be a bit undisciplined at times but he has a great motor and plays with a ton of effort.
The Raiders would be betting on him making a full recovery and could bring him along slowly as a depth piece.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
214 Tyler Lacy DL | Oklahoma State
with the 214th overall selection, the Raiders grab a versatile and talented defender and Tyler Lacy out of Oklahoma State. Lacey is a strong and stout defensive end at 6-4 and 280 pounds and he projects as a great run defender at the NFL level.
The former cowboy did not have a great combine performance as he ran a 5.11 40 but he showed great strength with 30 reps on the bench press and he could transition into an interior defensive lineman full time. He shows great technique and plays with the aggression you look for in a high motor player but he can sometimes get caught behind the play because of his lack of foot speed.
Lacey makes sense as a depth piece and as an interior rusher that could bring some pass rush ability from the three technique. We could also see the Raiders asking him to add some bulk to his frame to be a bit more stout but he does have the motor and attitude you look for in a rotational defensive lineman.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
220 Israel Abanikanda RB | Pittsburgh
We fully expect Josh Jacobs to be back on the Raiders in 2023 but we can't guarantee that he will be in Las Vegas beyond that. With that in mind, we use a late round selection on a running back with high upside in Israel Abanikanda out of Pittsburgh.
Anaconda has a solid build at 5-10 and 216 pounds and he is one of the fastest and more athletic running backs in this class. He ran a 4.41 2nd 40 which is in the 91st percentile and completed a 41-inch vertical which is in the 98th percentile. He was one of the most productive running backs in college football with 1400 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2022.
He was not much of a receiving threat at Pittsburgh but he has good hands and is in adept blocker in the passing game. There are some concerns about him being not physical enough of a runner and he has very small hands which could make him susceptible to fumbles. Abanikanda only had three fumbles in 11 games last year but of course that is at the college level.
Running back is not a major need for this team but it's hard to pass on a guy with potential like this given the uncertainty around Josh Jacobs long term future as a Raider.
Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas trades down on Day 1
231 Jon Gaines IOL | UCLA
Many scouts gave this player a fourth round grade so it's our lucky day that Jon Gaines out of UCLA is available this late in our mock draft. You can never have enough talent and depth on the offensive line and Gaines brings a level of versatility that makes him a very attractive Day 3 selection.
The former Bruin is well built at 6-4 and 303 pounds and played four positions while at UCLA. He started initially as a left guard, played a little bit of center and right tackle, and finished his college career exclusively as a right guard. This versatility allows him to potentially occupy the swing tackle position while also providing depth at all three of the interior positions as well.
There are some concerns about his technique as well as his need to improve his pad level, but these are both things that can be coached up by the Raiders staff.
He graduated in three years and even earned his master’s degree while in school so it's clear he has the intelligence to learn multiple positions in the Josh McDaniels’ offense. This will allow him to potentially contribute right away as the mental learning curve should be quite easy for this young man.