The 2023 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror as the Las Vegas Raiders prepare for the regular season. Let’s look at the Raiders’ picks this year and how those picks came about. Then, play with the PFN 2024 NFL Mock Draft Simulator to see how Las Vegas can stack the momentum in the next cycle.
Las Vegas’ roster has been top-heavy for some time now. They needed inexpensive labor, and lucky enough, they got an influx of that with the 2023 NFL Draft. Only the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions had more overall capital than the Raiders.
Want to see how the Raiders graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Then come check out our complete Las Vegas Raiders draft grades. You can also see the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Las Vegas Raiders Draft Picks by Round in 2023
- Round 1, Pick 7
Tyree Wilson, EDGE | Texas Tech - Round 2, Pick 35 (From IND)
Michael Mayer, TE | Notre Dame - Round 3, Pick 70
Bryon Young, DL | Alabama - Round 3, Pick 100 (From KC via NYG)*
Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati - Round 4, Pick 104 (From HOU)
Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland - Round 4, Pick 135 (From NE)
Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue - Round 5, Pick 170 (From NYJ)
Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia - Round 6, Pick 203 (From HOU)
Amari Burney, LB, Florida - Round 7, Pick 231 (From NE)
Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State
*Compensatory selection
How Many Draft Picks Did the Raiders Have Entering the 2023 NFL Draft?
Like the city, Las Vegas was busy. The Raiders entered the draft with 12 picks, seven of which were their own. The Raiders did a good job retaining their top picks, owning each of their original selections inside the top four rounds.
Through a sequence of mid-draft trades, the Raiders had only nine selections by the end of the event. However, they were still able to capitalize on their available picks and infuse their roster with talent.
The third-round pick Las Vegas added in the Darren Waller trade originated in Kansas City as part of the JC-2A resolution. That pick was traded for Kadarius Toney, and the Giants turned Toney into Waller using that pick.
The Raiders acquired the Atlanta Falcons’ fifth-round selection in the trade for WR Bryan Edwards. Las Vegas sent Edwards and their seventh-round pick to Atlanta in return.
Meanwhile, the Raiders picked up the Cowboys’ sixth-round pick in return for sending DT Johnathan Hankins and a 2024 seventh-round selection to Dallas.
Las Vegas’ original sixth-round pick ended up being the property of the New England Patriots. The Raiders acquired QB Jarrett Stidham — who started their final two games — and a seventh-round selection in return for sending that sixth-round pick to the Patriots. The other seventh-round selection was obtained from the Arizona Cardinals in return for sending CB Trayvon Mullen to Arizona.
Who Did the Raiders Draft in 2023?
The Raiders’ top 2023 draft pick marks their highest since 2019. Unfortunately, the 2020 draft was a complete disaster, and the selection of Alex Leatherwood in 2021 was a letdown. However, the Raiders made a smart move by using their 2022 first-round pick to acquire Davante Adams. The hope is that Tyree Wilson will continue this positive momentum with his high-end talent.
During Day 2, Las Vegas made some trades with the Indianapolis Colts. They gave up the No. 38 and No. 141 picks in exchange for the No. 35 overall selection, which they used to pick tight end Michael Mayer.
They also traded up for cornerback Jakorian Bennett, quarterback Aidan O’Connell, and safety Christopher Smith, indicating that they were willing to take risks to acquire prospects who ranked higher on their board.
Needing increased depth across their defensive front in particular, the team managed to cover an impressive amount of ground with players such as Wilson, Byron Young, and Nesta Jade Silvera.