We are inching ever closer to the 2025 NFL draft and things are heating up in the rumor mill. Mock drafts are coming out every day and more and more players are being linked to the Las Vegas Raiders.
In this mock draft we take two approaches where we try to maximize our Day 2 selections and focus on taking the best player available.
With that in mind let's jump into our first trade and our first selection of this latest edition of the Just Blog Baby 7-round mock draft.
12. Shedeur Sanders | QB Colorado – Acquired via trade with Dallas
As we mentioned in the opening paragraph, we are focusing on trading back in this draft and we do so by trading the No. 6 overall pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for picks 12, 44, and 76. We were worried that Dallas would take some of the players on our board but they opted for defensive tackle Mason Graham instead.
With the 12th overall pick, we are unable to resist the urge to draft the potential franchise quarterback available in Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. There has been a lot of talk around Sanders in this draft cycle with some projecting him to go as high as top five to the Giants or Browns or as low as the late 20s to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In this mock, he goes 12th to Las Vegas, and we stash him behind Geno Smith to learn for a couple years before taking the reins.
37. Josh Simmons | OT Ohio State
Regardless of who the first-round pick was, we knew that strengthening the offensive line is still a major priority. Geno Smith is an excellent quarterback, but he needs to be protected and an upgrade at right tackle is a great move here. So, with the 37th overall pick we select offensive tackle Josh Simmons out of Ohio State.
Simmons measures in at 6-5 and 317lbs and would have likely been a top ten pick if it was not for a knee injury in October. However he looks to be fully recovered and should be able to come in and push for a starting job straight away. If he is not able to win the right tackle job in camp, then he can certainly be used as a swing tackle until he is ready to take on one of the starting tackle positions.
51. TreVeyon Henderson | RB Ohio State – Acquired via trade with New York Giants
As we mentioned at the top, we are focusing on trading down and we do so once again by turning the 44th overall pick into picks 51 and 85 in a deal with the New York Giants. So with the 51st overall pick we take one of the most explosive players in the draft in running TreVeyon Henderson.
Henderson was a 1000 yard back with Ohio State this season and was one of the stars of the show at the NFL Combine. He is on the smaller side as a running back at 5-10 and 200lbs but is an explosive athlete with a 40 and vertical in the 90th percentile for his position. This is a deep running back class and Henderson has a chance to be one of the best players from a special group.
68. Darius Alexander DT Toledo
We continue our mock draft with a focus on the defensive side of the ball with our next few picks. The first of them is the 68th overall pick on defensive tackle Darius Alexander from Toledo who is one of the standout athletes from this draft class.
Alexander is a load at 6-4 and 310lbs and is an elite athlete at every level. He ran a 4.95 40 at the combine and showed off great numbers in the broad jump and vertical as well. The Toledo star is the prototypical defensive tackle from a physical perspective and should be a great fit alongside Christian Wilkins and Maxx Crosby on the defensive line.
There are some concerns about his motor and pad level but that can be addressed with coaching and an NFL-level conditioning program. He will also be able to rotate with a deep defensive line group to stay fresh late in games.
76. Barrett Carter LB Clemson - Acquired via trade with Dallas
Our mock draft continues with another pick on the defensive side of the ball with a selection that we acquired via trade with the Dallas Cowboys as part of our move from 6 to 12 in the first round. Barrett Carter out of Clemson is an undersized but feisty linebacker that plays the position with a high level of physicality and passion.
Linebacker is not an immediate need if the short term free agents the Raiders signed pan out but Carter projects as a starting MIKE linebacker who can wreck an offense’s run game. Carter is described as a “heat-seeking missile” in the run game by many scouts and he brings great knowledge of the game along with his physicality.
He is not the most accomplished pass defender however and will take some coaching up in that department but can learn under the veterans until he is ready. One thing you can’t coach is passion and desire and Carter brings plenty of both to the football field.
85. Kevin Winston Jr. S Penn State – Acquired via trade with New York Giants
Similar to linebacker, safety is not a massive position of need thanks to some short term free agents but we use another of our picks acquired via trade to build up the defense. With the 85th overall pick, we select Kevin Winston Jr. out of Penn State who is one of the most talented players in this class.
Winston is a big safety at 6-2 and 215lbs and would have been a much higher selection if he didn’t tear his ACL in September against Bowling Green. He has all of the physical tools and was one of the best run-defending defensive backs in the country before his injury. Winston has a chance to come in and learn behind the veteran safeties in Las Vegas while contributing on special teams and could be ready to take on the starting role in 2026 and beyond.
108. Dorian Strong CB Virginia Tech
We continue our focus on defense in the fourth round with another defensive back that brings a lot of physicality to the football field. Dorian Strong out of Virginia Tech measures in at 6-1 and 185lbs and was a playmaker for the Hokies during his five years in Blacksburg.
Strong recorded 5 interceptions between 2023 and 2024 and was downright dominant in coverage, allowing fewer than 10 receptions and 100 yards receiving this season, according to NFL Draft Buzz. This dominance is enough to make you look past some of the average measurables like 40 and vertical as Strong uses his technique and smarts to make up for some of his physical deficiencies.
143. Pat Bryant WR Illinois
We switch back to offense with our fifth-round pick as we continue the search for an outside receiver to complement Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers. We snag Pat Bryant out of Illinois with the 143rd overall pick and hope that he continues on his development path.
Bryant has gotten better every year with the Illini and he ended his college career with an excellent senior season. In 2024 he recorded 54 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns as he lead the Illini passing attack in all categories.
This is a player that makes the most of his physical tools but uses craftiness and route running to get open versus raw physical ability. He has solid size at 6-2 and 204lbs but has average speed and explosiveness with a 4.61 40 and a 37.5 inch broad jump.
Bryant won’t blow anyone away with his speed but he is a crafty route runner that knows how to use leverage and footwork to get open. He is also credited by scouts for his contested catch ability and run after the catch skills which would be a great addition to a talented Raiders offense.
180. Jake Majors OC Texas
We get back to the big boys up front with our sixth-round picks and we use the 180th overall selection on a smart and athletic player that can develop in to a depth piece for the Raiders. Jake Majors measures in at 6-3 and 306lbs and is an explosive athlete which he showed off with a 5.00 40 and a 36.5 inch vertical which puts him in the 100th percentile for his position.
Majors is known for being an elite pass protector and a genius-level processor when it comes to reading defenses. Where he struggles though is in the run game as scouts feel he doesn’t have the raw power to move the big bodies in the NFL.
Perhaps if he gets involved with an NFL strength and conditioning program he can build that strength on top of an already incredible foundation. Majors is a bit of a project player but he can take his time learning and developing before being called on for real game action.
213. Luke Lachey TE Iowa
If Penn State is linebacker U and LSU is defensive back U then Iowa is tight end U when it comes to producing high level NFL players at the position. In recent years Iowa has pumped out tight ends like Noah Fant, George Kittle, TJ Hockenson, and Sam LaPorta who have all had excellent careers in the pros.
With the 213rd overall pick we gamble on another Iowa tight end in Luke Lachey who has elite size at 6-6 and 250lbs and solid athletic measurables which he displayed at the 2025 NFL Combine. He has soft hands and is excellent at contested catches which he showed off primarily in 2022 with a 400 yard and 4 touchdown campaign.
Lachey had an injury-shortened 2023 season and didn’t reach those same heights in 2024 but he has the physical tools and makeup to contribute at the NFL level. He also has strong NFL bloodlines thanks to his dad, former All-Pro offensive tackle Jim Lachey who starred for Washington in the late 80s and 90s.
215. Josh Priebe OG Michigan
As we move into the seventh round we turn our focus back to the offensive line and grab another unheralded player with great mental traits but lacking a bit in the physical tools. Michigan guard Josh Priebe is our pick here and the 6-5, 306lb lineman is ready to bring his elite run-blocking to the NFL.
The Raiders offensive line is a bit in flux and it appears that GM John Spytek is making most of the positions an open competition, including the center and guard positions where Jackson Powers-Johnson excelled last season. Priebe can come in and compete right away for one of the guard spots which he did at Michigan in 2024 after a great career at Northwestern.
Priebe is an older prospect at 24 but he has 30 starts under his belt for two tough and physical teams that know how to play to the whistle. Scouts rave about his competitiveness and toughness that helps him overcome some of his athletic limitations. Those are two traits we love to see in Las Vegas.
222. Barryn Sorrell EDGE/LB Texas
We end our draft with a player that has high physical upside and great traits but also had a productive college career. Barryn Sorrell measures in at 6-3 and 256lbs and put up solid numbers at the combine including 28 reps on the bench press and a 4.68 40.
Sorrell racked up 16 sacks over the last 3 years on a stout Texas defense that was a fixture in the College Football Playoff. He is a day 3 pick thanks to his tweener size but plays with the relentless motor that you can’t coach. His versatility is going to be the key to his success as he can rush the passer with his hand in the dirt but can also stand up and play outside linebacker.
The Louisiana native is not an explosive athlete which limits his potential but he has the mental aptitude and football IQ to make up for those limitations. Sorrell projects as a rotational defensive lineman that can make a huge difference when given the opportunity.