The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2023 NFL Draft with many expecting them to use their top pick to land a quarterback. Instead, general manager Dave Ziegler went in a different direction and it’s earned some solid praise from around the league.
Las Vegas attempted to move up for the first pick, but were outbid by the Carolina Panthers. Once Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud were off the board, the Raiders’ front office turned its attention to adding a difference-maker who could either improve their offensive line or defense.
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As detailed by Peter King in Football Morning in America, Las Vegas targeted offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., cornerback Devon Witherspoon and edge rushers Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson. Once the franchise was put on the clock, it wasted little time selecting Wilson No. 7 overall.
While the Raiders stayed put with their top pick, Ziegler made multiple moves on Day 2 and Day 3 to acquire specific targets. Between the selection of tight end Michael Mayer and the addition of quarterback Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas received some praise for its haul from NFL executives.
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Speaking to Mike Sando of The Athletic, one veteran NFL evaluator said Wilson was more impressive to him as a prospect than Myles Garrett entering his draft class. Another executive told Sando that his team ranked Wilson ahead of Anderson and Jalen Carter.
“Tyree Wilson is a scary proposition, but he is talented. Michael Mayer is a good pick. Tre Tucker, Jakorian Bennett, those guys can run. Aidan O’Connell is like a statue, cannot move, but he makes fast decisions, so it’s interesting that Josh McDaniels took him, when (Tom) Brady was that way.”
Anonymous NFL executive on the Las Vegas Raiders draft picks 2023
Las Vegas Raiders draft class 2023
- Round 1, 7th overall: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Round 2, 35th overall: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
- Round 3, 70th overall: Bryon Young, DL, Alabama
- Round 3, 100th overall: Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati
- Round 4, 104th overall: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
- Round 4, 135th overall: Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue
- Round 5, 170th overall: Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia
- Round 6, 203rd overall: Amari Burney, LB, Florida
- Round 7, 231st overall: Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State
Las Vegas received praise from another rival executive for the tight end room they’ve put together. Specifically, the executive liked how the tight ends fit into the play-action concepts Josh McDaniels uses.
While the Raiders still face an uphill battle to make the playoffs in a crowded AFC, coming out of the 2023 NFL Draft with a haul that impressed many NFL executives is a step forward.