Welcome to Day two of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Raiders first pick of the day is at 44 overall and they have another pick at 77 overall in the third round. Before this thing kicks off, we take a look at the best Raiders picks on Day two of the past ten years.
For these purposes, we’re going to count them down, starting at 10th and working our way up to one. Enjoy.
10. DL Jihad Ward, 2016, Pick 44
Ward was a raw prospect when he was selected at 44 overall in the second round. While even now you’d say he was overdrafted, he has enjoyed a long NFL career. His time with the Raiders was short.
After two seasons, he was shipped to the Cowboys in exchange for wide receiver Ryan Switzer and neither Ward nor Switzer would make the roster of their respective new teams.
But to Ward’s credit, he has hung around the NFL as a journeyman, appearing in every game the past three seasons, first for the Jaguars and the past two seasons with the Giants.
9. DL Mario Edwards Jr, 2015, Pick 35
Another Day two Raiders pick who didn’t make it through his rookie contract. And another who went on to have nominal success and enjoy a decent NFL career.
Edwards has played for six teams over his 9-year NFL career, putting up 11 sacks and 29 QB hits over the past four seasons. He is currently a free agent at the age of 30.
8. EDGE Arden Key, 2018, Pick 87
Day two players for the Raiders not making it through their rookie contracts and finding success elsewhere is becoming a theme here. Key put up just three sacks over three seasons with the Raiders.
Now on his third team in the past three seasons, he has put up 17 sacks over that time, giving him 20 sacks over six NFL seasons. He enters his second season with the Titans.
7. OL Dylan Parham, 2022, Pick 90
Parham was the Raiders top pick in this draft because they had traded their first and second round picks to Green Bay for Davante Adams. And he was a fantastic pick at this spot. He came in with the ability to start at either guard or center and with Andre James in place, was plugged in at left guard, starting every game there the past two seasons.
6. TE Michael Mayer, 2023, Pick 35
There were many who had Mayer as the best tight end in this draft in the leadup. He ended up being the third tight end off the board and after the Lions snagged Sam LaPorta at 34, the Raiders jumped up to get Mayer at 35.
While LaPorta proved to be the exception to the rule, typically tight ends don’t have instant success. Mayer started to show progress as his rookie season went on, and the hope is that he will continue to develop in his second season. He will be joined by Raiders first round rookie Brock Bowers.
5. LB Divine Deablo, 2021, Pick 80
Deablo played safety in college. And credit to the Raiders for recognizing he fit the mold of today’s outside linebackers. He worked his way up to a full time starter in his second season and, outside of an injury shortened season in 2022, he hasn’t looked back. Great get at 80 overall in the third round.
4. S Tre'von Moehrig, 2021, Pick 43
Moehrig was the reigning Jim Thorpe award winner. Much like with Mayer, Moehrig was seen by many as the best safety prospect in the draft, but ended up being the third taken at his position. He has been the team’s starting safety the past three seasons, offering stability there and even picking off three passes last season.
3. EDGE Malcolm Koonce, 2021, Pick 79
Six months ago, Koonce would not have been ranked this high. He may not have been ranked at all. But over the final nine games last season, he blew up for eight sacks, showing he is a legit pass rusher when allowed to be himself.
He will never be great against the run, but every team needs at least a situational pass rusher. Getting one in the third round is great value. If he keeps it going next season, he will either get paid by the Raiders or by some other team while bringing draft assets back in trade.
2. G Gabe Jackson, 2014, Pick 81
Jackson was my favorite draft pick in the 2014 draft. That’s because Khalil Mack and Derek Carr were no-brainer picks Reggie McKenzie could have done in his sleep. But Jackson was a steal of a pick in the third round.
He went on to make up a key piece of one of the best offensive lines in football. Jackson spent seven seasons with the Raiders before being traded to the Seahawks following the 2020 season for a fifth round pick as the Raiders looked to rebuild their offensive line.
1. QB Derek Carr, 2014, Pick 36
Getting nine years out of a quarterback drafted at 36 overall is great value. Carr started from day one and by his third NFL season looked like he would lead the Raiders to new heights. But a broken fibula derailed that.
He was just starting to outplay his college evaluation that he didn’t hold up well under pressure. And after that injury, his upward trajectory dropped and leveled off. That breakout season still earned him a record deal and he remained the Raiders unquestioned started for several seasons. Though over that time he has as many playoff wins as anyone else on this list – 0.
Over nine years, he was able to set a number of franchise records including career passer rating (91.8), pass attempts (4958), completions (3201), completion percentage (65.0), passing yards (35,222), and TD passes (217). The past couple years, they realized they had gone as far as they could with him and after trying to trade him, released him and he joined the Saints.
