The 2024 NFL Draft, hosted in Detroit, begins on April 25. The Las Vegas Raiders have enjoyed a solid start to their offseason and if they hit on the majority of their draft picks, the team could emerge as a serious contender for a playoff spot this season.
In preparation for the three-day event, here are the answers to the biggest draft-related questions about the Raiders.
What venue will the draft be held at, and who will televise the event?
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in downtown Detroit, surrounding Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. ABC, ESPN and NFL Network will televise the event, streamable on platforms such as NFL+, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.
Additionally, six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick will co-host “The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular” during Thursday’s first round, which will be available to watch on ESPN+ and YouTube.
The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is on April 25 at 8 p.m. ET. Rounds 2 and 3 begin on April 26 at 7 p.m. ET, while the fourth through seventh rounds will be held on April 27 starting at noon ET.
How has the Raiders’ offseason unfolded so far?
Following Josh McDaniels’ mid-season departure, Antonio Pierce improved the culture of the team and was named head coach of Las Vegas, removing the interim tag off his title. Later, the Raiders made a major splash in free agency when they signed Christian Wilkins, a former Dolphins DT, to a four-year, $110 million contract. Wilkins and edge rusher Maxx Crosby would go on to establish a dangerous combo. Notably, Las Vegas also signed QB Gardner Minshew II to a two-year, $25 million contract, forcing him to contend with Aidan O’Connell, a 2023 fourth-round pick, for the starting job.
How many picks do the Raiders have?
Due to previous trades with the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings, the Raiders own eight selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Here is a full list of Las Vegas’ draft picks:
- Round 1: No. 13 overall
- Round 2: No. 44
- Round 3: No. 77
- Round 4: No. 112
- Round 5: No. 148
- Round 6: No. 208
- Round 7: Nos. 223 and 229
What are the Raiders’ biggest positional needs entering the draft?
Offensive line, cornerback and quarterback.
The Raiders might need to draft at least two offensive linemen to compete for starting jobs in 2024 after RT Jermaine Eluemunor signed with a new team. Meanwhile, RG Greg Van Roten is an unrestricted free agent. Adding a cornerback early in the draft would also be beneficial, given that Las Vegas defense had a modest 13 interceptions last season. And while the Raiders signed Minshew earlier this offseason, it’d still be wise to draft a signal-caller, as the right quarterback could make all the difference in reaching the playoffs this season.
Who could the Raiders target in the first round?
Texas DT Byron Murphy II: Although defensive tackle isn’t a pressing need for Las Vegas, Murphy is the only consensus first-round prospect who allegedly visited the team in the top-30, indicating that he could be a realistic choice at pick 13. Despite being undersized for his position, the 6-foot-297-pound player uses his strength and explosiveness to cause havoc in the backfield, which might further strengthen the Raiders defensive line.Murphy had a career-best season last year, recording 29 stops, 8.5 for loss, and five sacks..
Washington OL Troy Fautanu: A left tackle for his entire collegiate career, many analysts, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Fautanu can play guard in the NFL and have success.Fautanu was without a doubt the best player on Washington’s offensive line the previous season, which won the Joe Moore Award while giving up just 17 pressures and two sacks. The Raiders would benefit from Fautanu’s positional flexibility as they strive to figure out their best offensive line combination.
Which prospects could be in play for the Raiders later in the draft?
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.: Penix, the 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up, may be selected by trading up in the second round to choose Las Vegas if it plans to keep bolstering its quarterback room. Penix has a long history of injuries, which is worrying, but he has a strong arm and might be successful when passing to Raiders wide receivers Daavante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Penix led the Huskies to a 14-1 record in the previous season while throwing for 36 touchdowns and 4,903 yards, which topped the FBS.
Maryland CB Ja’Quan Sheppard: A potential Day 3 pick, Sheppard — who took a top-30 visit with the Raiders — made significant strides in his lone season with the Terrapins after spending four years at Cincinnati. Over the last two seasons, Sheppard collected 81 tackles, 7.5 for loss, two sacks and 18 pass breakups. With the versatility to play safety, Sheppard could develop into a useful contributor to the imposing Raiders defense.
