The Las Vegas Raiders can’t afford to botch the 2023 NFL Draft, if we’re being honest. This is especially true in the first three rounds, where general manager Dave Ziegler will have four selections within the top 100. The raging debate among talking heads and Raider Nation is which route to take. If you judge what the team’s brain trust did during free agency, it will appear rebuilding the defense through the draft makes the most sense. Why not reunite two old teammates, Nate Hobbs and Devon Witherspoon of Illinois fame? Ziegler has already publicly stated that he’s looking to add an immediate impact contributor in the first round. If that’s the case, going with a cornerback early would be justifiable. More so due to the lingering questions surrounding the defensive backfield. At the same time, the ever-present question surrounding the quarterback position will need answering as well. Let’s lay out one potential scenario for the Raiders’ first three rounds in this upcoming draft.
Illinois
Washington State
Wisconsin
Stanford