Raiders 2022 Draft Grades: Double Dipping at Positions of Need

Raiders 2022 Draft Grades

The Raiders were one of many teams that didn’t have the chance to pick on the first day of the draft, but that doesn’t mean that they weren’t able to significantly improve their team over the course of the weekend. With new leadership in Head Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler, Las Vegas was a fascinating team to monitor on draft weekend as it was unclear just how the duo of McDaniels and Ziegler were going to attack the draft. After further review, I think we were able to get a glimpse of their draft and team building philosophy and just how they plan on assembling this roster for the years to come. Let’s take a look at the Raiders 2022 draft grades by picks and how their class shaped up overall.

Raiders 2022 Draft Grades:

Round 3, No. 90 overall: Dylan Parham, IOL, Memphis

One of my favorite picks of the entire draft was when the Raiders selected Parham in the middle of the third round. Parham, a four-year starter at guard for the Memphis Tigers, is an athletic blocker who excels playing in space. He is a former tight end who shows very good quickness, lateral agility and balance. He has the versatility to play either guard spot or even make the transition to center. For the Raiders, getting better along the inside of the offensive line was a massive need as the team has struggled to run the ball after the departure of key veterans such as Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson and Richie Incognito. Parham should settle in at one of the guard spots early on as a rookie and is in line to be a difference maker for this Raider team in year one.

Round 4, No. 122 overall: Zamir White, RB, Georgia

Shortly before day two of the draft kicked off, news came out that the Raiders had elected to decline the fifth-year options of defensive end Clelin Ferrell, safety Jonathan Abram and running back Josh Jacobs. All three former first round picks will now be set to become unrestricted free agents after the end of this season and are all very likely to move on from the Raiders. While Ferrell and Abram are hardly surprises, Jacobs has been productive when on the field for the Raiders. The selection of White is a sign that the new regime in Vegas is hardly infatuated with Jacobs and there is a very real chance that White has a significant role in year one. White is a tremendous athlete who plays with power and explosiveness as a ball carrier. He led the Bulldogs in rushing the last few seasons and there’s a real case to be made that his best football is ahead of him. I love this pick by the Raiders as they look to get more explosive and dynamic in their backfield.

Round 4, No. 126 overall: Neil Farrell, NT, LSU

Entering the draft, the two biggest needs for the Raiders were interior offensive line and defensive line. After adding Parham with their third-round pick adding to their offensive line, the team looks to add some beef to their defensive line with the selection of Farrell. He has outstanding size and power for the position and projects as a two-down run stopper for the Raiders defense. He has the size and power to maintain two gaps in the Raiders odd front scheme under new Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham and has a very real chance to find playing time early on, given the Raiders allowed many of their interior defensive lineman to walk in free agency.

Round 5, No. 175 overall: Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee 

The Raiders double down on the interior of their defensive line with the selection of Matthew Butler. Butler is a versatile defensive lineman with the skillset to play either a three-technique or a one-technique. He has good first step quickness and fluidity as a pass rusher, as well as excellent length to finish. He plays hard and with good technique in the run game and is a complete player who shouldn’t have lasted all the way to the fifth round. Don’t be surprised to see Butler earn snaps early on with the Raiders depth chart so thin inside their defensive line.

Round 7, No. 238 overall: Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State

Talk about a value pick here for the Raiders as Munford was projected to go much higher than the seventh round. A four-year starter for the Buckeyes who has played both tackle and guard, Munford has the versatility you like in a late-round pick. Munford has length and above average power to succeed as a tackle at the next level but may struggle with speed off the edge as he is a bit stiff in his lower body. Munford’s upside and versatility is a welcomed addition to the Raiders offensive line that desperately needs to get better if they are going to continue to be a playoff team. Look for Munford to compete for the swing tackle role as a rookie.

Round 7, No. 250 overall: Brittain Brown, RB, UCLA

I sense a theme for the Raiders in this draft. They have double dipped at every position they drafted this year which tells me they identified positions of need going into the draft and decided to throw multiple darts at the board to raise their odds of hitting and finding answers at those positions. Brown is an underrated player in this class. He has vision, contact balance and burst. He runs downhill and is good on passing downs with his ability to catch and block. He has an uphill battle making the roster but could latch on to the practice squad.

Overall grade: B+