3 Mistakes the Raiders made during the NFL Draft

1. Reaching on Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood

There’s a reason this pick is repetitive. Despite some believing that Leatherwood was a first round talent, most NFL scouts and personnel members believe he was destined to go in the later half of Thursday evening.

Instead, Las Vegas made him the third offensive tackle taken and forth lineman off the board. Roll Tide?

GM Mike Mayock fell in love with the 6-foot-6  312-pounder through the draft process. Leatherwood is an imposing figure for a reimagined Raiders’ offensive line, but he is far from a polished product. Even though he was a part of an offense that helped define the 2020 College Football season, there’s still many holes to his overall game.

What might be the more terrifying thought is that Leatherwood actually regressed at left tackle in Year 2 than he did in Year 1. Albeit former QB Tua Tagovailoa is left-handed, meaning Jedrick Wills was technically the left tackle, the now-rookie Raider allowed more pressures (14) and sacks (five) last season with Mac Jones than he did in 2019 ( seven pressures, zero sacks).

Passing on a name like Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw is a bit hard to imagine. Sure, the last four draft classes for Mayock and Gruden have featured a first-round pick from either Alabama, Ohio State or Clemson, that doesn’t mean the winning pedigree will transfer over.

If Las Vegas traded back, this would have been fine. Instead, Leatherwood must be a near All-Pro to justify the selection.