Raiders Mock Draft: Tom Telesco, and more.

Raiders Mock Draft: Tom Telesco Bolsters Offense With New QB And RB

/ Las Vegas Raiders / By

The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t helped their draft position with two straight wins, but that doesn’t mean they can’t bolster their offense.

Many fans persistently assert that the Raiders will lose out on elite prospects in the upcoming draft, yet this assertion is unfounded. The Silver and Black can still walk away with more than one instant starter; the team’s current brass proved to have one of its best draft hauls in 2024. There’s no reason that can’t be the case again; in fact, 2025 could prove to be even better for Sin City.

Las Vegas Raiders Mock Draft: Fortifying The Offense For 2025

Round 1: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Upon reflection, the Raiders did not do themselves any favors by not exerting every effort to retain Josh Jacobs. This past season clearly demonstrated the Silver and Black’s dire need for a running back; neither Alexander Mattison nor Ameer Abdullah are viable long-term options. This is where you take your first-round pick and help load up your offense: enter Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.

Standing just shy of six feet, Jeanty was this year’s Heisman runner-up. While some may argue that college stats are irrelevant, Jeanty’s resume is truly impressive. He accumulated 2,497 yards on the ground while scoring 29 times—Jeanty averaged just north of seven yards per carry (7.3).

While he’s technically undersized for an NFL prospect, Jeanty makes up for it with his rare combo of explosiveness, excellent vision, and the ability to shed tackles with ease. Something that’ll help him quickly transition to the pro level will be the capacity to anticipate holes—it’s like he knows which gap will open up before it opens up. Jeanty will be an asset regardless of which scheme the next Raiders offensive coordinator favors. His velocity will let him leave linebackers in the dust if it comes to a zone attack. On the other hand, his power is nothing to balk at either.

His willingness to commit in pass blocking is something of note as well. If you’re Telesco, you go with the best player available again. In his first draft, Telesco acquired a transformative offensive talent in Brock Bowers; if you pair Jeanty with Bowers, you’ll have something special.

Round 2: T.J. Sanders, DL, South Carolina

Speaking of the best player available, this allows Telesco to keep things simple—you don’t overcomplicate something that doesn’t need to be. South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders proves that, if one of the top three defensive tackle prospects is still available early in the second round, you take him.

An imposing figure at six-foot-five and 300-plus pounds, Sanders absolutely wreaked havoc in the SEC—he recorded eight and a half sacks the last two seasons while also tacking on 17 tackles for a loss. While we don’t know who will be running the Raiders defense next season, Sanders brings versatility with his game; he’ll line up in either a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment. His blend of sheer size, length, and freakish athleticism gives him a solid foundation to build on at the next level.

Joining a group that’ll feature Maxx Crosby, Tyree Wilson, and Christian Wilkins, Sanders’ ability to line up anywhere could prove to be invaluable. You add in his relentless motor and notable tackling ability, and Sanders could be an instant contributor for the Silver and Black.

The Raiders can add future contributors on offense in the third round…

Round 3: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon & Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama

Look, the Raiders missed out on Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders with their late-season surge. Jeanty immediately contributes to the team’s success; he and Bowers, along with Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers, create a formidable group. Additionally, the Raiders still possess Michael Mayer, their second tight end. Having a pair of third-round picks gives Telesco room to play around with—you can still get a quarterback and continue adding to the offensive line.

Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel boasts a Pro Football Focus passing grade just shy of 90 (89.3). As this season’s Offensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten, Gabriel threw 28 touchdowns in his only season out west, demonstrating a noteworthy completion percentage of 73.2. Yes, he’s touted in the second tier of quarterback prospects along with Quinn Ewers and Carson Beck, but that doesn’t mean Gabriel won’t have potential. He’ll be coming in with high-level football IQ; Gabriel has shown he can quickly diagnose the field—he’ll find a weakness in coverage and exploit it.

Building up the trenches…

Alabama’s Tyler Booker gives you an interior lineman that’ll compete for snaps from the outset. PFF graded him 87.1 in the pass-blocking department; that’s something the Raiders will need more of, especially if Aidan O’Connell will be your starter in 2025. Booker’s figure just screams Raiders offensive lineman; he’s six-foot-five and comes in at more than 335 pounds—you add on a few more pounds and you could have Art Shell 2.0 (Shell was a third-round pick as well).

Booker isn’t all just looks; he’s nimble and quick on his feet considering his size. If the Raiders want to re-establish a power run approach, Booker will prove to be invaluable. He will flatten opposing defenders, potentially creating lanes for players like Jeanty. He can play either side at guard; his versatility is something that’s pivotal at the NFL level—you’re going to build a monster interior with Booker alongside Jackson Powers-Johnson.

*Top Photo: Getty Images

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