Subscribe
Follow Us
The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2022 NFL Draft with limited resources as a result of their blockbuster trade for former Green Bay Packers star wide receiver Davante Adams back in March. Originally slated to pick in each of the first two rounds, the Raiders instead made their first selection in the third round. Given their limited number of selections, fans weren't entering the draft with huge expectations.
Even so, the Raiders emerged from the NFL Draft with a solid group of prospects, having spent four of their six picks in the trenches, with the other two devoted to the running back position. All things considered, it was a solid first draft for the likes of general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels in their new positions in Las Vegas.
But how did the Raiders really do? That's what we'll assess here. Here are grades for every pick made by the Raiders in the NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders 2022 NFL Draft Grades
Round 3, Pick 90- G Dylan Parham (Memphis)
Grade: B+
The Raiders had two of the lowest graded guards in the NFL this past season, John Simpson and Alex Leatherwood, via Pro Football Focus. It wasn't surprising that Las Vegas opted to select guard Dylan Parham out of Memphis, a former high school tight end who started over 50 games at the collegiate level. While Parham may not be a shoo-in instant starter, his natural quickness and athleticism could wow the coaches enough to get him on the field, even in a depth-filled Raiders' offensive line. Parham's ability to play both tackle and guard should better his chances of starting for a poor Las Vegas offensive line.
Round 4, Pick 122- RB Zamir White (Georgia)
Grade: B
With Kenyan Drake recovering from last season's broken ankle and Josh Jacobs having failed to appear in every game in each of his three seasons in the league, the Raiders opted to select Georgia's Zamir White, a projected third rounder, in the fourth round. That's good NFL Draft value for Ziegler and the Raiders, who certainly liked White's production for the national champions in 2021, as he ran for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns in 15 games played. His combination of vision, patience and ability to fight through tackles should instantly earn him a decent share of snaps in his rookie year, with the potential for more if injuries hit the Raiders' backfield once again.
Round 4, Pick 126- DT Neil Farrell (LSU)
Grade: B-
Neil Farrell was a standout producer for LSU against tough competition, as he tallied 45 tackles, 9.5 for loss, with two sacks in 12 games played. Farrell is a behemoth of a man- he's 6-4 and 338 pounds- with an aggressive tackling style and a potent ability to bring the bull rush against quarterbacks. However, the LSU product's weight likely concerned some teams and could potentially be an issue at the pro level. He should provide some good depth on the defensive line for Las Vegas, allowing everyone to stay fresh.
Round 5, Pick 175- DT Matthew Butler (Tennessee)
Grade: B+
This is an outstanding value. While it was a bit curious to see teams pass on Butler in round 4, the Raiders weren't going to let him fall any further. The 6-4, 299-pound Butler starred for the Volunteers against SEC competition as a 26-game starter, leading the team in tackles in each of his three seasons. Butler is lightning quick off the snap, traits that should allow him to find his way into the Raiders' rotation of pass rushers as a rookie. He projects as a dependable starter down the road, so Ziegler and McDaniels really got themselves a good value here in the fifth round.
Round 7, Pick 238- OL Thayer Munford (Ohio State)
Grade: A-
Another great value here for the Raiders. Ohio State's Thayer Munford started 45 games, sliding between guard and tackle. He's 6-6 and 325 pounds, so his size and length could allow him to seamlessly switch between positions at the NFL level as well, good news for a Raiders' offensive line that needs all the help it can get. Munford allowed just one sack and one quarterback hit in 2021 against good competition, meaning he could be ready for a meaningful role in the NFL as a rookie. That's outstanding for a seventh-round pick.
Round 7, Pick 250- RB Brittain Brown (UCLA)
Grade: C+
An interesting late-round choice, Brown has the size- 6-1 and 205 pounds- and skill- he ran for over 600 yards and had seven touchdowns in 2021- to be a contributor in a running back room. The Raiders now have a few running backs they feel good about.
