The 2022 NFL Draft was all about the acquisition of dynamic receiver Davante Adams for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders gave up first- and second-round picks for Adams, who had 432 catches and 47 touchdowns over the last four seasons with the Green Bay Packer. He will reunite with quarterback Derek Carr, his former teammate at Fresno State. The NFL picks have Adams among the top candidates to lead the NFL in receiving yards in 2022, even with a new team.
The Raiders added some help at running back and on both lines with the picks they did have. Pretty much every one of the selections ended up being well received by draft analysts. Three cornerbacks and two safeties were among the 15 undrafted rookie free agents signed by the Raiders after the draft was over.
Even with the solid draft and addition of Adams, the Raiders (+550) have the worst odds to win the AFC West according to the NFL betting lines,
Here’s a look at how the Raiders fared in the draft.
Let’s check the news, stats, reports, and NFL expert picks for Las Vegas Raiders Recap. We’ve plenty of NFL predictions for you to consider.
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Pick 90 Dylan Parham | OL, Memphis Tigers
The Raiders had to wait a bit to make their first pick after the Adams trade. Then, Las Vegas dropped down four spots before taking the versatile interior offensive lineman from Memphis.
Dylan Parham came to Memphis as a tight end before transitioning to the offensive line. He had started at left guard, right tackle and right guard. He also has the ability to play center.
Parham went to the NFL Scouting Combine and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds to solidify his spot as a second-day selection in the draft.
The Raiders picked up a fifth-round pick in trading down four spots so the Tennessee Titans could draft quarterback Malik Willis.
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Pick 122 Zamir White | RB, Georgia Bulldogs
Zamir White was Georgia’s leading rusher during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He scored 11 touchdowns in each of those seasons. With 17 catches in his three years at Georgia, he wasn’t utilized much as a receiver.
The 215-pound White ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, had a 33½-inch vertical jump and 10-8 broad jump so he offers the size and athleticism that NFL teams covet.
Josh Jacobs has been used heavily and, some say, overused at times with the Raiders. With an uncertain future for Jacobs with the Raiders, White will have a chance to work his way into a key role in the Las Vegas offense.
The Las Vegas odds lists White (+6000) eighth among running backs in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds.
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Pick 126 Neil Farrell | DT, Louisiana State Tigers
The 2021 season was one to forget for many of the LSU players, but Neil Farrell might have had his best season for the Tigers. Farrell had a career-high 9½ tackles for loss, including 5½ in back-to-back games against nationally ranked Ole Miss and Alabama.
Farrell’s stock dropped a bit after his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Raiders went off his tape during the 2021 season and not some less-than-stellar running and jumping performances. He has a chance to work his way into the defensive line. A run-stuffing, 325-pound interior defensive lineman from the SEC has a certain amount of value.
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Pick 175 Matthew Butler | DT, Tennessee Volunteers
Las Vegas stayed in the SEC to take Matthew Butler, who is another player who saved his best for his fifth and final season.
The 295-pound Butler had 47 tackles, five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. He also had seven quarterback pressures as a senior. Butler had two sacks against Ole Miss and another against eventual national champion Georgia.
Butler had a time of 5.0 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine to go along with a 32-inch vertical leap.
Butler has the ability to play multiple positions on the defensive line and he could provide some versatility to a defense that needs all the playmakers it can get.
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Pick 238 Thayer Munford | OT, Ohio State Buckeyes
The Raiders continue to add players to its offensive and defensive lines.
After making 33 starts at left tackle, Thayer Munford moved inside and started 10 games at left guard. There are those who think his future could be at guard.
7️⃣7️⃣ @TMunford75 pic.twitter.com/5zOUvpdkxe
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 5, 2022
The All-American didn’t test that well at the combine, which is why he was available in the seventh round.
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Pick 250 Brittain Brown | RB, UCLA Bruins
UCLA’s second-leading rusher in 2021, Brittain Brown had 41 career receptions and was used as a kickoff returner earlier in his time at UCLA.
New Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels comes in from the New England Patriots, where it was not unusual to use a number of running backs. Brown and White will come in and try to work their way into the equation at running back.
Grading the Draft
It is hard to find too much fault with the draft, especially when you factor in the addition of Adams. Playing in a division with Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos, perhaps some help in the secondary would have been a smart idea.
The Raiders improved simply by the addition of Adams. If one of the running backs emerges into an impact player, this could turn out to be a huge draft for the Raiders. Let’s check the Super Bowl odds.
GRADE: B
