The NFL draft is an annual event where the 32 teams of the National Football League select new players from a pool of eligible college football players. The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last. The draft consists of seven rounds, with each team having one pick per round, unless they trade or forfeit their picks. The 2023 NFL draft was held from April 27 to April 29, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio.
History: The NFL draft was first proposed by Bert Bell, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, in 1935. He suggested that the league should hold an annual player selection meeting to distribute the talent more evenly among the teams and prevent bidding wars for the best players. The league owners agreed to his idea, and the first NFL draft was held in 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia. The first player ever drafted was Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago, who was selected by the Eagles but never played in the NFL.
The draft, like the NFL, evolved in the face of competition — specifically the emergence of the upstart American Football League (AFL) in 1959. The competition between the new league and the NFL for draft picks was fierce. The addition of another league meant more teams and more roster spots for drafted players. To attract more players, both leagues increased their number of rounds and offered higher salaries and bonuses. The AFL also introduced some innovations to the draft process, such as a common draft for both leagues, a lottery system for determining the first pick, and a supplemental draft for players who were not eligible for the regular draft. In 1967, after the merger agreement between the NFL and the AFL, the two leagues held a common draft for the first time.
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The Las Vegas Raiders had nine selections in the 2023 NFL draft. Here is a breakdown of their picks:
Round 1, No. 7 overall: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech. Wilson is a versatile and athletic edge rusher who can play both defensive end and outside linebacker. He has a quick first step, long arms, and a powerful bull rush. He led the nation with 16 sacks in 2022 and was named a consensus All-American.
Round 2, No. 35 overall (from Indianapolis): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame. Mayer is a complete tight end who can block, catch, and run after the catch. He has great size (6-4, 265), speed (4.59 40-yard dash), and hands (only two drops in 2022). He was a finalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end and earned first-team All-ACC honors.
Round 3, No. 70 overall: Byron Young, DT, Alabama. Young is a disruptive interior defender who can penetrate gaps and pressure quarterbacks. He has good strength (31 bench press reps), agility (7.03 three-cone drill), and motor. He had six sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2022 and was named second-team All-SEC.
Round 3, No. 100 overall: Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati. Tucker is a dynamic playmaker who can line up as a receiver, running back, or return specialist. He has elite speed (4.34 40-yard dash), elusiveness (19 broken tackles in 2022), and vision. He averaged 18.9 yards per catch and scored nine touchdowns as a receiver and returner in 2022 and was named first-team All-AAC.
Round 4, No. 104 overall: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland. Bennett is a physical and instinctive cornerback who can play man or zone coverage. He has good size (5-11, 195), length (32-inch arms), and ball skills (four interceptions in 2022). He was a lockdown defender who allowed only one touchdown and a 44.8 passer rating against him in 2022 and was named second-team All-Big Ten.
Round 4, No. 135 overall: Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue. O’Connell is a smart and accurate passer who can operate from under center or shotgun. He has good arm strength (54 mph velocity), touch (69% completion rate), and poise (only six interceptions in 2022). He threw for 3,769 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2022 and led Purdue to its first Big Ten title since 2000.
Round 5, No. 170 overall: Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia. Smith is a rangy and reliable safety who can play deep or in the box. He has good athleticism (4.51 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical), awareness (nine passes defended in 2022), and tackling (77 tackles in 2022). He was a key member of Georgia’s national championship defense and was named third-team All-American.
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL). They have participated in the NFL draft every year since 1960, except for 1980, when they forfeited their first-round pick as part of a trade with the New England Patriots. The NFL draft is an annual event where the NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last.
The last five top draft picks by the Las Vegas Raiders are as follows:
2023: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
Wilson was the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He is a 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end who has a rare combination of size, speed, and power. He recorded 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in his senior season at Texas Tech. He is expected to be an immediate impact player for the Raiders’ pass rush.
2022: Dylan Parham, OL, Memphis
Parham was the 90th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He is a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman who can play both guard and tackle. He started 36 games at Memphis, where he was named to the All-American Athletic Conference first team in 2021. He will provide depth and versatility to the Raiders’ offensive line.
2021: Alex Leatherwood, OL, Alabama
Leatherwood was the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He is a 6-foot-5, 312-pound offensive lineman who played both left tackle and right guard at Alabama. He won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman in 2020 and was a two-time national champion with the Crimson Tide. He will be a key piece of the Raiders’ offensive line.
2020: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Ruggs was the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He is a 5-foot-11, 188-pound wide receiver who has blazing speed and explosiveness. He ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, the fastest among all receivers. He caught 98 passes for 1,716 yards and 24 touchdowns in his three-year career at Alabama. He will be a deep threat for the Raiders’ offense.
2019: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
Ferrell was the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He is a 6-foot-4, 264-pound defensive end who has great strength and technique. He had 27 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss in his four-year career at Clemson, where he won two national championships and was a two-time All-American. He will be a leader for the Raiders’ defense.
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FAQs
Q: Who is the best player that the Raiders drafted in 2023?
A: This is a subjective question, but some might argue that Tyree Wilson, the seventh overall pick, is the best player that the Raiders drafted in 2023. He is a 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end who has a rare combination of size, speed, and power. He recorded 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in his senior season at Texas Tech. He is expected to be an immediate impact player for the Raiders’ pass rush.
Q: How many offensive and defensive players did the Raiders draft in 2023?
A: The Raiders drafted four offensive players and five defensive players in 2023. They drafted one quarterback, one wide receiver, one tight end, and one offensive lineman on offense. They drafted two defensive ends, one defensive tackle, one cornerback, and one safety on defense.
Q: Which player did the Raiders draft from Alabama in 2023?
A: The Raiders drafted Byron Young, a defensive tackle, from Alabama in 2023. He was the 70th overall pick in the third round. He is a 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle who has great strength and quickness. He had six sacks and nine tackles for loss in his senior season at Alabama. He will add depth and versatility to the Raiders’ defensive line.
Q: Which player did the Raiders draft from Notre Dame in 2023?
A: The Raiders drafted Michael Mayer, a tight end, from Notre Dame in 2023. He was the 35th overall pick in the second round. He is a 6-foot-4, 265-pound tight end who has excellent hands and route-running skills. He caught 64 passes for 894 yards and nine touchdowns in his junior season at Notre Dame. He is considered one of the best tight ends in the draft class and will join Darren Waller and Foster Moreau in a formidable trio of tight ends for the Raiders.
Q: Which player did the Raiders draft from Cincinnati in 2023?
A: The Raiders drafted Tre Tucker, a wide receiver, from Cincinnati in 2023. He was the 100th overall pick in the third round. He is a 5-foot-9, 185-pound wide receiver who has blazing speed and elusiveness. He had 47 receptions for 721 yards and six touchdowns in his senior season at Cincinnati. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. He will provide a dynamic threat for the Raiders’ offense and special teams.
