The last time we aw the Raiders, they were getting handily beaten at Cincinnati for their fifth straight loss to fall to 2-7 on the season. Fresh off their bye, the Silver & Black returns to action this Sunday with a trip to the Miami Dolphins.
Las Vegas is hoping that its bye week rejuvenated the squad and that offensive staffing changes can spark them in the season’s second half.
While that’s certainly the hope inside the Raiders’ facilities, some Las Vegas fans have already turned their attention to 2025 and beyond. Specifically, a growing faction of Raiders fans are all aboard Team Tank.
If the season ended today, the Raiders would own the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Many suspect that Las Vegas will look to snatch up a franchise signal-caller when the draft arrives in late April.
As the season moves into Week 11, let’s take a look at what NFL mock draft boards look like for the Raiders nationally.
USA TODAY Sports
The pick: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Author’s Take:
It’s only fitting that perhaps the biggest gamble of this class would land in Las Vegas. If Ward is able to harness the singular playmaking skills he has demonstrated throughout this season, the payoff for this pick would be immense. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz.
USA TODAY Sports’ complete Week 11 mock draft
CBS Sports
The pick: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Author’s Take:
In all likelihood, Las Vegas will explore trading up for a quarterback this year. The Raiders have been stuck in purgatory at the position the last few years with players like Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew, but if they are unable to find a trade partner and the perceived top options are off the board, then it would be wise not to reach for the next best option. Will Johnson is potential No. 1 overall pick material when healthy. – Josh Edwards.
CBS Sports’ complete Week 11 mock draft
Sports Illustrated
The pick: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Author’s Take:
The Raiders have the league’s worst rushing offense, mustering only 76.9 yards per game on the ground. Milroe is one of the most gifted athletes in all of college football, regardless of position. He pairs explosive athleticism with a 6’2″, 225-pound build, a difficult combination for opposing defenses. He’s amassed 565 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, and he’s made strides as a passer. This year, he has completed 67.4% of his passes for 2,046 yards and 13 touchdowns. Milroe’s ceiling is tantalizing—he just needs the right environment. – Daniel Flick.
Sports Illustrated’s complete Week 11 mock draft
Fox Sports
The pick: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Author’s Take:
The Raiders would love a franchise savior at quarterback to fall into their lap here, but adding some juice to the backfield in the form of a star running back could also pay big dividends. The Raiders are currently last in the NFL in rushing yards (692), and Jeanty is the kind of dynamic talent who could bring the jackpot back to Las Vegas. – Rob Rang.
Fox Sports’ complete Week 11 mock draft
Sporting News
The pick: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Author’s Take:
The Raiders can’t mess around with bridge options and later-round rookies. They need to land a franchise dual-threat QB and build around him with their next full-time offensive schemer. Milroe fits that bill. – Vinnie Iyer.
Sporting News’ complete Week 11 mock draft
Bleacher Nation
The pick: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Author’s Take:
While I think the Browns will go with the top wide receiver in the draft instead of reaching for a QB, the Raiders feel like a team that will reach for a QB who has the electrifying skillset of Milroe. We’re still not certain he’s a polished enough passer for the NFL, but he’s certainly got all the tools and is an incredible athlete. He seems like a perfect Raiders reach pick. – Matt Rooney.
Bleacher Nation’s complete Week 11 mock draft
Takeaways
Sitting with the No. 5 overall NFL draft pick currently, multiple quarterback-hungry franchises are in front of the Raiders in the draft order.
In CBS, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News and Bleacher Nation’s mock drafts, both Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Miami quarterback Cam Ward have come off the board before the Raiders’ No. 5 overall selection.
Three of the four like the Raiders to draft Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe under that scenario. If that situation unfolds, maybe the Raiders could think about trading down multiple spots and still drafting Milroe while acquiring another pick in the process.
Despite a 2-8 record and possession of the No. 1 overall pick at the moment, the Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn’t be a threat to the Raiders’ hopes of finding the franchise quarterback they want. The Jaguars just extended former No. 1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence to an extension last summer.
The other three teams that sit in front of the Raiders are a different story, though. The New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans could all be potential roadblocks to the Raiders’ hopes of drafting either Sanders or Ward.
