Raiders NFL Draft 2025: The Day 1 contributors from this class

Top picks Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech are obvious, but don’t sleep on Darien Porter and Dont’e Thornton Jr.

By wheeling and dealing, general manager John Spytek amassed 11 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft this past weekend allowing the Las Vegas Raiders to add young talent to the roster.

Looking at the draft class as a whole, and it’s difficult to ignore the Silver & Black seemingly turning back the clock.

Spytek, head coach Pete Carroll, and the rest of the Raiders decision makers went back to an old-school well with the time-tested Al Davis route as some of the selections are the size, speed, length physical specimens the legendary owner preferred during his reign as the decision maker.

Las Vegas’ first selection — Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty — at No. 6 overall set the tone for the rest of the three-day affair. That was followed by a bruiser of a wide receiver in TCU’s Jack Bech at No. 58. And from that point on, it was athlete after athlete that can ad much needed speed, agility, and competitiveness to a Raiders roster that needs all of it as Spytek and Carroll head into their inaugural season as the new regime.

Las Vegas even doubled up on the offensive line, defensive tackle, and quarterback (albeit one is likely going to be a do-it-all athlete) during Day 2 and 3 of the draft.

Thus, let’s take a look at prospects who are Day 1 contributors or have the potential to earn snaps this coming 2025 season. Caveat here: Jeanty and Bech are obvious. But don’t sleep on third-round pick Darien Porter and fourth-round choice Dont’e Thornton.

Let’s go:

McMahon’s Mavens:

Round 3: No. 68 overall

Darien Porter, Cornerback, Iowa State

At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, and 33 1/8-inch arms, this Cyclones defensive back has an 80-inch wingspan and 4.30-flat speed, showcasing the traits Davis would’ve loved. Carroll certainly loves them too, and so will special teams coordinator Tom McMahon.

Hence, McMahon’s Mavens.

Porter is a developing cornerback but has the size, speed, and length to be a disruptive cover man, but he’s a special teams truther, too. He blocked five kicks (four punts) during his tenure at Iowa State, loves playing on coverage units, and with this measurements, has potential to be an elite gunner and block man on McMahon’s group.

Punter AJ Cole III is elite and will only get better if Porter is sprinting down the field during his the boots.

The easiest way on to a 53-man roster is standing out on special teams and Porter has the mindset and skillset to be a valuable special teamer and cornerback.

Round 4: No. 108 overall

Dont’e Thornton Jr., Wide Receiver, Tennessee

During the post-draft press conference, Raiders director of college scouting Brand Yeargan shared owner Mark Davis joked this selection was the Al Davis pick of this draft. Height, weight, speed, raw traits, certainly fit the Big Al bill.

The 6-foot-5 and 205-pound receiver also brings 4.30-flat speed to the league with 32 1/8-inch arms and a 79-inch wing span. A large catch radius who has fear-instilling speed that’ll truly test if defenses are brave to press or play bump-and-run, Thornton has the makeup to be a special teams demon, too.

Think Mack Hollins.

While Thornton wasn’t a special teamer for the Volunteers, he can exponentially increase his value for the 53-man roster being both a deep threat and prime gunner on special teams coverage units. His length, speed, and deep ball tracking skills can translate well to someone that can down Cole’s punts deep in enemy territory.

Creative Concoction

Round 6: 180 overall

J.J. Pegues, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi

As I wrote in my draft grades piece, “new-age Zack Crockett” regarding this stout 6-foot-3 and 309-pounder from Ole Miss. Accustomed to playing all along the defensive line in the Rebels’ 4-2-5 defensive scheme, Pegues — a defensive tackle by trade — offers the impressive ability to be a short-yardage power back and a pass-catcher, too.

Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin trusted Pegues with the rock as he accounted for: 11 first downs, 10 broken tackles, and seven touchdowns on 21 carries this past season.

Can Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly be as willing and creative to get Pegues in the mix on offense?

Imagine the beefy Pegues in the backfield with Jeanty. That’d definitely get my attention as the middle linebacker across the line of scrimmage as I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on here?

Round 6: 213 overall

Tommy Mellot, Quarterback, Montana State

Can this extremely athletic, shifty, and fast FCS product make the leap from college quarterback to productive Raider like Ronald Curry did all those years before him?

Both Kelly and McMahon should lay claim to Mellot as a weapon. While quarterback isn’t Mellot’s destiny in the pros, he’s elusive with homer run-speed at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds and can follow in the footsteps of Curry and Julian Edelman.

The Raiders have needs at slot wide receiver and return specialist and Mellot has the explosiveness and looseness to dabble in both. There’s no clear-cut kick and punt returner and Mellot has the competitiveness to show up there. And slot receiver is up for grabs, too.

Also Keep An Eye On: No. 222 overall pick Cody Lindenberg. The seventh-round pick out of Minnesota enters the fray at a linebacker spot that needs to determine the pecking order and depth. He’s an intelligent and communicative middle linebacker that has the skillset to shine on special teams.