A look at how 2023 draft class fared in Baltimore
Let’s check in on the Las Vegas Raiders’ second-year players and see how the 2023 draft class fared in a 26-23 win at the Baltimore Ravens and what to expect going into Week 3 at home against the Carolina Panthers.
Eight of the nine players from the draft class are currently on the roster. The Raiders cut third-round pick Byron Young and he was claimed by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was inactive in Week 1.
Tyree Wilson:
The No. 7 overall pick was inactive at Baltimore. He injured his knee in the first quarter in Week 1 at the Los Angeles Chargers. He tried to play through it, but departed the game for good in the second quarter. He is reportedly dealing with a sprained knee. The injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. Because of an injury to starter Malcolm Koonce, a lot is expected from Wilson when he’s healthy.
Michael Mayer:
The second-round pick from Notre Dame played 39 snaps (62 percent) at Baltimore. He had one catch for 11 yards. In Week 1, Mayer played 34 snaps (57 percent) and had two catches for three yards. Fist-round pick, Brock Bowers has been a star as he leads all NFL tight ends with 15 catches for 156 yards. The Raiders are hoping to get Mayer going so they can have a strong tight-end tandem.
Tre Tucker:
The third-round pick was less part of the game plan at Baltimore than he was against the Chargers. He was on the field for 60 percent of the snaps after playing 78 percent of the snaps in Week 1. He had two catches for 13 yards. Perhaps the speedster will play a bigger role against the Panthers.
Jakorian Bennett:
The fourth-round pick played 71 percent of the snaps against the Ravens after playing 53 percent of the snaps against the Chargers. He made some plays and had two passes defenses and has three on the season. The cornerback is looking like he learned a lot from an up-and-down rookie season and he is ready to be positive piece of this unit.
Aidan O’Connell:
O’Connell, who started 10 games last season, is currently the backup quarterback to Gardner Minshew after losing a training-camp battle. Has hasn’t played yet this season.
Chris Smith:
The fifth-round safety from Georgia played 24 snaps on special teams and none on defense against the Ravens. Smith played 23 snaps on special teams and none on defense the week before. He not a factor on defense at this point.
Amari Burney:
Like Smith, the sixth-round pick was all special teams Sunday with 21 snaps played. He played the exact about special teams snaps in Week 1.
Nesta Jade Silvera.
The seventh-round pick played 8 snaps on defense at Baltimore after playing 10 in Week 1. Still, he has a chance to play more after he played just 24 defensive snaps as a rookie.
Conclusion:
Overall, it was another pretty quiet day for the 2023 draft class.
