A whole host of Raiders draft class landed among ESPN's 100 best picks

[ASFN Admin]

We here at Raiders Wire have lauded the Raiders draft class this year and what new GM John Spytek and Pete Carroll were able to accomplish. But sometimes it's good to get some outside opinions from various angles. If for no other reason than confirmation (or disagreement) that it isn't my personal opinion. After all, if I was the foremost authority on this stuff, I'd probably have a far more lucrative position than this one.

Speaking of which...Matt Miller. Who worked his way up in the draft analysis arena to be one of the more respected experts on the subject, and ultimately land a job with ESPN, today put out a list of what he deems to be the top 100 best NFL Draft picks of 2025.

Miller bases these rankings on pre-draft projections and team fits mostly. And with 100 players listed, you'd figure every NFL team will be represented at least once. Those teams represented early and often would figure to have best worked this draft.

First, the early...

3. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (Pick 1-6)​

My final overall ranking: No. 3

Not only did Jeanty represent obvious value, but he also fills a team need. The Raiders' new brass -- coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly -- want a power running game, and Jeanty was the clear top back in the class. He'll be heavily featured as a runner and a receiver while bringing the culture Carroll wants to establish in Las Vegas.

And the often...

73. JJ Pegues, DT, Las Vegas Raiders (Pick 6-180)​

My final overall ranking: No. 97

Pegues played defensive tackle, fullback and tight end at Ole Miss and was one of the most intriguing prospects in this class. He's also an impressive nose tackle, something the Raiders' roster was lacking.

84. Jack Bech, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (Pick 2-58)​

My final overall ranking: No. 53

The Raiders had to find an outside receiver in this draft, and Bech has some of the nicest hands of any pass catcher in the class. He'll be a rookie starter thanks to his route-running prowess.

88. Darien Porter, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (Pick 3-68)​

My final overall ranking: No. 70

Porter is a developmental cornerback with traits rarely found this late in the draft. The former wide receiver has elite 6-foot-4 length and the speed to be a man coverage nightmare.

Four best picks in the top 100 is pretty good.

The only team to have a player in the top ten and more than four picks in the top 100 was the Browns who landed the tenth spot for stopping Shedeur Sanders's free fall in the fifth round. Which I'm not sure that should really count, honestly. Especially since they had already taken a QB in Dillon Gabriel in the third round.

For what it's worth, the Raiders had seven opportunities to draft Sanders and passed on him every time. And you can't tell me he is more of a "fit" on the Browns than he would have been on the Raiders -- a team that hadn't already taken a QB in this draft at that point. So, hardly a "steal" by the Browns.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: ESPN 100 best draft picks includes host of Raiders class

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