Mock Draft
11/25/24
9 min read
Las Vegas Raiders 2025 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Can Shedeur Save The Franchise?
A bad season got even worse for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Along with a 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos to move to 2-9, the Raiders also lost starting quarterback Gardner Minshew for the season. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Minshew broke his collarbone in the loss, meaning that Aidan O'Connell or Desmond Ridder will take over for the rest of the year.
The Raiders would have the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft if the season after Week 12, giving them an opportunity to quickly turn the team around this offseason. Here's what a seven-round Raiders draft could look like for a team hoping to get back into playoff contention as soon as possible.
Raiders 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, 3rd overall
#Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders vs. Kansas
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 24, 2024
The stuff that translates. One of his best in-pocket throws of the year. pic.twitter.com/AO9EPdRLBG
Pick: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado 
This one feels like it's bound to happen, regardless of where the Raiders are picking.
Along with Shedeur Sanders' relationship with new Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, the Raiders have a glaring need at the quarterback position. Sanders could be drafted and immediately start under center, while there's an outside chance that the team would consider hiring Deion Sanders as head coach in place of Antonio Pierce.
As a prospect, Sanders shows great toughness when stepping into throws when he knows he's going to hit. He has the arm talent to deliver an accurate ball all over the field. He's not a great athlete and won't be a dual threat at the next level, but he has the pocket presence to avoid pressure while keeping his eyes downfield.
Sanders could come in and immediately contend for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, provided the Raiders work on building an offense around him.
Shedeur Sanders' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Round 2, 34th Overall
Pick: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas 
The Raiders have one of the weakest secondaries in the NFL this season, lacking any true star power in the defensive backfield. According to FTN Fantasy, they have the 26th pass defense by DVOA and need to find a true No. 1 cornerback to handle top receivers across the league.
Jahdae Barron would be a massive upgrade at cornerback for Las Vegas. Opposing QBs are posting a 32.2 passer rating when targeting him this season, showing lockdown CB1 potential with good size at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds.
While he still has the bad habit of dropping his eyes at contact, Barron has improved significantly as a tackler compared to 2023. He has excellent ball skills and the instincts to read and react to passing concepts, which will help him thrive early on at the next level.
That's exactly the kind of cornerback that the Raiders need right now.
Jahdae Barron's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Round 3, 65th Overall
Miami Hurricanes WR Xavier Restrepo is not only on pace for re-writing the Canes receiving records, he's a blue collar player who thrives in the controllable elements of his position. Great routes, great hands and great effort. Easy guy to love. pic.twitter.com/n8LAYofQVM
— Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) October 11, 2024
Pick: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (FL)
The Raiders should consider taking a swing on a top free agent wide receiver like Tee Higgins this offseason, especially if they don't plan on taking a receiver at the top of the draft. Regardless of who they take in free agency, a player like Xavier Restrepo could still be a great safety blanket option for Sanders early in his NFL career.
Restrepo is one the smaller end of WR prospects, coming in at 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds. However, he's one of the most competitive prospects in this draft class, fighting on every snap, even when he has to block in the run game.
As a receiver, Restrepo has excellent body control and strong hands, enabling him to make all kinds of difficult catches. He also has good short-area quickness and football IQ, allowing him to understand how to attack leverage and maximize separation with his route running.
That's an ideal type of player in the slot, opening up the underneath passing game for Sanders in his rookie season.
Xavier Restrepo's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Round 3, 69th Overall
Pick: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
It's a great running back class, which is terrific timing for a Raiders team that couldn't find a replacement for Josh Jacobs this offseason.
Kaleb Johnson isn't Ashton Jeanty, but he's having a phenomenal year of his own at Iowa. He's nearing 1,500 rushing yards with 21 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 6.7 yards per carry and an impressive 4.5 yards after contact per attempt.
Along with an ideal 225-pound frame, Johnson brings great vision and contact balance to his game, allowing him to find holes and break tackles with regularity. He isn't a one-cut burner, but he's so consistent with a well-built frame that he should have the skill set to be a workhorse running back in the NFL.
Kaleb Johnson's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Round 4, 104th Overall
#Cincinnati DL Dontay Corleone is a disruptive force on the Bearcats defensive line, can overwhelm you with his power but also has lateral ability to work down LOS to make plays in the run game.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) October 5, 2023
Already off to a great start this season (4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks). pic.twitter.com/rZtEFk0xRv
Pick: Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati
Maxx Crosby is still one of the best EDGEs in the NFL, but the Raiders need more help up front to take some of the pressure off of their franchise player.
Nicknamed "The Godfather," Dontay Corleone is one of the most exciting prospects from a smaller FBS program. He's a 318-pound defensive tackle with excellent play strength, which is boosted even further by his great pad level and leverage to drive blockers into the backfield.
NFL teams will be paying close attention to Corleone's medical evaluation at the NFL Scouting Combine after he missed the start of the season with blood clots in his lungs. However, if he gets a clean bill of health and does well in pre-draft workouts, he might end up going way earlier than the fourth round.
Round 5, 140th Overall
Pick: Armand Membou, iOL, Missouri
Bolstering the offensive line will be paramount for the Raiders this offseason, especially if they plan on drafting a QB with their first-round pick.
Armand Membou isn't a household name, but he's been terrific at right tackle for Missouri this season, allowing zero sacks and just seven pressures all year. He's undersized at 6-foot-3 to play tackle but could kick inside and be a long-term guard with his ability in pass protection.
Round 6, 177th Overall
Juice Wells Jr is one WR prospect to watch when conference play starts. His dense build and play strength are key to his ability to create yards after the catch. I think Lane will get him the ball more once they enter SEC play! pic.twitter.com/xDtkKuWD8A
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) September 12, 2024
Pick: Antwane Wells Jr., WR, Ole Miss
Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers will be the main targets for whoever plays quarterback for the Raiders in 2025. Even with an earlier pick in a slot receiver like Restrepo, depth on the outside will be important for the Raiders going forward, especially if Meyers leaves in 2026 free agency.
Antwane Wells isn't the biggest star at his own position at Ole Miss, but "Juice" is a polished receiver with good contact balance to be a weapon after the catch. He also has good foot quickness and deceleration ability to gear down and snap off curl/comeback routes, getting open with ease.
There's nothing game-breaking about Wells' game, but he's effective in enough facets of the game that he'll be a potential long-term contributor for an NFL team as a third or fourth pass-catching option.
Round 6, 212th Overall
Pick: David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
One of the most interesting Senior Bowl accepted invites so far goes to David Walker, who is a pass-rushing menace for Central Arkansas.
A 260-pound EDGE, Walker has generated 30 sacks and 151 pressures in three seasons at the FCS level. That kind of pass-rushing juice will make him a fascinating project for a team looking to take a swing on an EDGE in the later rounds.
NFL teams can always use more pass-rushers, so the Raiders might as well take a swing on another player with experience getting after the quarterback.
Round 6, 216th Overall
Sonny Styles BIG hit pic.twitter.com/psvxNIb6CH
— Buckeye Realm (@BuckeyeRealm_) September 9, 2023
Pick: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Versatile pieces on defense are valuable, even in the later rounds of the draft.
A 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker, Sonny Styles has also lined up at safety and in the slot, along with multiple roles on special teams in his college career. At the very least, Styles could come into Las Vegas and embrace a role as a special teams ace with his size, athletic ability, and overall versatility.
Round 7, 219th Overall
Pick: Maalik Murphy, QB, Duke
If the Raiders don't want to stick with Minshew and O'Connell as backups in Las Vegas, a late-round flier on a quarterback with physical tools could make for an exciting QB2 in Las Vegas.
Maalik Murphy flashed in limited time for Texas in 2023 and has had a solid season as the starter at Duke, where he's thrown for 2,698 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He is 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds with a live arm, making him a fun backup who could develop into something with time, assuming he decides to go pro.
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