The Las Vegas Raiders head into the 2025 NFL Draft with the sixth overall pick. It could have been much higher, but the Silver and Black won two of their last three games, launching them down the order. However, even with the sixth selection, Las Vegas still has plenty of options.
The Raiders also have an early pick in the second round, 39th overall. The Raiders did well in the first two rounds in 2024, selecting Brock Bowers and Jackson Powers-Johnson. Both had excellent rookie seasons and are on an upward trajectory.
Without further ado, let’s take a glance at what Las Vegas might do with their first two picks.
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Round 1, Pick 6: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Nobody knows how the first five picks will go. We do know some talented players will still be available for Las Vegas. However it goes down, multiple players from cornerback Will Johnson, running back Ashton Jeanty, defensive lineman Mason Graham, and EDGE rusher Abdul Carter should be available.
Tetairoa McMillan vs Colorado
6’5, physical, and flexible. He won the day vs Travis Hunter pic.twitter.com/TjD94cfQ1e
— Theo Ash (@TheoAshNFL) July 11, 2024
Admittedly, some of these players could be good fits. Johnson is more likely to be gone when the Raiders end up on the clock. Jeanty is a prime talent, but this draft is extremely deep at that position. In the later rounds, Las Vegas has the potential to find a quality running back. Both Graham and Carter are also good fits, but the Raiders have free agents at those positions who they might bring back. If not for those options, McMillan could be a better fit and might be the best player among the whole group.
McMillan is arguably the best receiver in the class. Travis Hunter can play receiver well and will likely get drafted higher, but McMillan is the best “pure” receiver. He’s got a massive frame at 6’5″, 212 pounds. Still, he moves very well for his size. Once he catches the ball, he’s still a threat, being one of the better receiving prospects we’ve seen in a long time after the catch.
All in all, if McMillan is available at six, it means both Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are probably off the table. That forces the Raiders to go in another direction. If they do, McMillan would be a good fit in the Raiders offense and would make life even easier for Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers.
Round 2, Pick 37: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Since the Raiders have a rather early selection in the second round, they’ll get a favorable look at some prospects that slipped out of the first round. After taking a receiver in the first round, quarterback, cornerback, running back, and edge rusher are the other spots that Las Vegas will likely focus on.
A quarterback probably won’t be the best choice here. Players like Jalen Milroe, Dillon Gabriel, and Jaxson Dart will all be available here. If Las Vegas is interested in one of those, the 39th pick is certainly too early. Trading down would be a better option.
Princely Umanmielen would be an excellent choice. Umanmielen is a player who peaked later in his career, but he’s a tantalizing prospect who should be selected anywhere from the beginning to the middle of the second round.
The Ole Miss pass rusher has always been explosive. However, early in his collegiate career, he relied on that too much. Recently, we’ve seen him develop more of a plan when rushing the passer. He now has a much more impressive package of moves to get to the quarterback. He could stand to be more physical against the run, but the tools are certainly there.
The edge rusher position is a spot Las Vegas may need to look at in the draft. It really depends on what happens during free agency, which will start over a month before the draft. Malcolm Koonce and K’Lavon Chaisson, two notable pass rushers, will both be eligible for free agency. If Las Vegas heads into April thinner at the position than they’d like to be, Umanmielen can remedy that problem.
*Top Photo: Imagn Images
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