Raiders Mock Draft 2025: An impact defender in Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker

Las Vegas surprises with 6th overall pick in final mock draft

Draft week is here — finally.

Come Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders and the other 31 teams engage in the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. We’ll get a bird’s eye view of the roster building philosophy general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll have when it comes to the Silver & Black. And the other teams, for that matter, over the course of the three-day event.

The opening round is slated to provide intrigue as Las Vegas has five other teams in front of them before their choice at No. 6 overall. While the prognostication is all over the place this much is for sure: The mock drafts end soon.

This is my final mock draft and a bit of a “surprise” for the Raiders initial pick.

Round 1

No. 6 overall: Jalon Walker, Linebacker, Georgia

The Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 5 flip the script on draft boards with their selection of Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty — a popular pick for the Raiders.

But that wasn’t a catalyst for a pivot as Las Vegas eyed an impact defender the whole time and, thus, Walker.

This Bulldog split his time at inside linebacker, outside linebacker, and edge rusher at Georgia and gives Carroll and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham a versatile defender that allows Las Vegas to get truly creative and deceptive on formations and how to attack opposing offenses.

Well built at 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds with sideline-to-sideline speed and high football intelligence, Walker can be moved around and used as off-ball linebacker on early downs and as a pass rusher on passing downs, for instance. How the Raiders deploy him is limited to the team’s imagination.

Round 2

No. 37 overall: Jalen Milroe, Quarterback, Alabama

An electric developmental quarterback who arrives to the league as a dangerous runner, this Roll Tide product can sit behind starter Geno Smith and be sprinkled into Raiders’ offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s RPO scheme.

As a dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands, Milroe is well built at 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds and brings scintillating speed that can breath serious life into Las Vegas’ short-yardage and red zone woes in Year 1. His passing mechanics need to be refined by Kelly and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, but it’s a Howitzer in terms of power.

Veterans like Smith and Carroll are ideal mentor and coach for Milroe.

Round 3

No. 68 overall: Quinshon Judkins, Running Back, Ohio State

Kelly is given a tailback he’s all too familiar with as this particular Buckeyes ballcarrier brings much-needed attitude to the Raiders’ backfield at a well-built 6-feet and 221 pounds. A strong runner who has toughness to barrel through traffic, the violence Judkins brings to the table is sorely lacking in Las Vegas.

More quick than elusive, Judkins can be a productive power element to a Raiders offense that needs more of it. Improved patience will serve him well as will dedication to pass protection and pass catching, but Judkins comes in well-versed in what Kelly likes to do offensively.

Round 4

No. 108 overall: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Wide Receiver, Tennessee

A pure-speed element is needed in the Raiders wide receiver room and this Volunteer brings that in spades with 4.3-second flat timed speed in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. A smooth glider who has long legs to quickly get to top speed, Thornton is also a nightmarish 6-foot-5.

A big-play threat that put real fear into opposing defenses, Thornton’s size and speed will do well for an accurate quarterback like Smith in Las Vegas. Comfortable with being a decoy to open things up for underneath routes, Thornton needs route refinement, but you can’t teach the scintillating speed he brings to the table.

Round 5

No. 143 overall: Zah Frazier, Cornerback, UTSA

The rare combination of size, speed, length, and ball production, this Roadrunner corner is tailor made for Carroll’s defense at 6-foot-3, 186 pounds, with 32 7/8 inch arms and a 80 1/8 inch wing span.

A smooth glider with 4.36 speed, Frazier’s long arms, ability to turn his hips, and mirror receivers gives him the ability to jam, stab, and play bump-and-run. He also brings ball tracking and playmaking ability at outside cornerback — a position group Las Vegas needs more talent at.

Round 6

No. 180 overall: Cam Jackson, Defensive Tackle, Florida

The Raiders are lacking a gargantuan presence on the interior defensive line and this Gator certainly brings that at 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds. A space-eater in the mold of veteran John Jenkins, Jackson has the anchor to be an immovable-type nose tackle in Las Vegas.

He’s the type to occupy blockers allowing his fellow defenders to make plays and flashes the power to maintain. Jackson’s pass rush toolbox is very limited, but as a two-gap run stuffer who is hard to move, this is the type of defensive tackle missing in the desert.

No. 213 overall: Carson Vinson, Offensive Tackle, Alabama A&M

An aggressive small-school left tackle with nimble feet, Vinson isn’t a readymade prospect that can be plugged at left tackle in Year 1. Yet, the 6-foot-7 and 314 pounder has the base for a blindside tackle that can both pass protect and make an impact as a run blocker.

Able to use his footwork and length in unison to keep pass rushers at bay, improved pad level will make Vinson a more refined steam roller in the run game. His aggressiveness may hurt in him in the NFL, but proper coaching can temper that and make him more cerebral.

No. 215 overall: Tyler Batty, Defensive End, BYU

A relentless motor-type defender who is high effort and stout at 6-foot-6 and 271 pounds, Batty brings much-needed physicality on the edge that can stymie the run and get to the quarterback on grit.

His length and strength will allow him to be a disciplined run defender on the edge while developing a more diverse pass rush toolbox — Batty prefers to euro-step his way past blockers enroute to the quarterback.

Round 7

No. 222 overall: Jackson Woodard, Linebacker, UNLV

Equal parts productive as a tackler and in coverage, the Raiders land a prospect in their own backyard in Woodard. Some may see the 6-foot-2 and 230-pound linebacker as too light, but somehow forget fan favorite Robert Spillane (now with the New England Patriots) stands stood 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds.

Las Vegas lacks the kind of instincts Woodard brings to the table in pass coverage and while he may be limited athletically, as a sound tackler with coverage chops, Woodard this Running Rebel can start on special teams and work his way up the depth chart.