Looking at 2023 draft class in its 2nd season
Let’s look at how the Las Vegas Raiders 2023 draft class fared in the 2024 season and what to expect moving forward.
Six of the nine players from the draft class are currently in the program. The Raiders cut third-round pick Byron Young and he was claimed by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was inactive in Week 1. Seventh-round pick, defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera was cut in Week 7 and is now on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad. Fourth-round pick, starting cornerback Jakorian Bennett is on the injured reserve with a shoulder injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Tyree Wilson:
The No. 7 overall draft pick was probably better in his second NFL season than his first, but, all told, he didn’t make great strides. Wilson had his moments and showed signs of improvements, but he had difficulty showing consistency. He finished with 4.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits. Perhaps Wilson will take a major step forward in 2025, but, for now, it appears he’s a rotational player who may not be worth giving the fifth-year option to in a year.
Michael Mayer:
The second-round pick from Notre Dame had 21 catches for 156 yards in 11 games. He missed six games due to personal seasons. The Raiders would like to see increased productivity from the tight end who they traded up to draft. Mayer will have to prove to the new offensive coaching staff he can be a weapon along with Brock Bowers, who was a rookie star.
Tre Tucker:
The speedy third-round pick played played starter’s snaps after the October trade of Davante Adams. He had 47 catches for 539 yards. Not great numbers for someone who played starter snaps most of the season. The new staff will surely look to find a way to utilize Tucker’s deep-threat ability, but they will also likely look for an upgrade at the starting wide receiver spot opposite of Jakobi Meyers.
Aidan O’Connell:
The fourth-round pick lost the starting quarterback competition but then was named the starter over a floundering Gardner Minshew. He was twice injured and went 2-5 as the starter. He didn’t enough much from his rookie season. The new regime will likely look to improve from O’Connell at the position.
Chris Smith:
The fifth-round safety from Georgia was inactive for the last two games after being active for the first 15 games of the season. He was only a special teamer. He may have an uphill battle in training camp to make the team.
Amari Burney:
The sixth-round pick was mostly a special teamer but played some on defense. His chances to make the 2025 roster will depend on how he fits the new system.
Conclusion:
It’s still early, but there hasn’t been a lot of great impact made by this class yet. The top three picks all need to make real strides in 2025. Don’t forget about Bennett. He played well before he was injured and should be a starter again.
