List of Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft picks explained

The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's American Football Conference West Division.[1] Founded on January 30, 1960, as the Oakland Raiders, they were a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) and joined the NFL in 1970 following the AFL–NFL merger.[2] [3] [4] The team departed Oakland to play in Los Angeles from the 1982 season through the 1994 season, becoming the Los Angeles Raiders, before returning to Oakland and switching back to being the Oakland Raiders at the start of the 1995 season.[5] Prior to the start of the 2020 season, the Raiders moved to Las Vegas and changed their name to the Las Vegas Raiders.[6] The team began utilizing Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, for home games the same year.[7]

The NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[8] [9] [10] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[11] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[12]

Before the merger agreements in 1966, the AFL directly competed with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues, along with the subsequent drafting of the same player in each draft. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues began holding a multiple round "common draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "common draft" simply became the NFL draft.[13] [14] [15] The first AFL draft was held prior to the start of the 1960 season. The first round of the 1960 AFL draft was territorial selections. Each team received a "territorial pick" which allowed them to select a single player within a pre-agreed upon designated region (the team's "territory"). Teams then agreed on the top eight players at each position, who were subsequently assigned to teams by random draw, with each of the eight teams receiving one of those players. This process was repeated until all 53 roster spots were filled.[16] Beginning in the 1961 draft, the AFL, using the same system as the NFL, began to assign picks based on the previous season's standings.[17]

Since the team's first draft, the Raiders have selected 64 players in the first round.[18] The team's first-round pick in the inaugural AFL draft was Dale Hackbart, a defensive back from Wisconsin; he was the team's territorial selection.[19] [20] The Raiders have drafted first overall once, selecting JaMarcus Russell in the 2007 NFL draft. In the most recent draft, held in 2024, the Raiders selected Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.[21]

The Raiders did not draft a player in the first round on eleven occasions. Five of the team's first-round picks—Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, Ray Guy, Gene Upshaw, and Charles Woodson—have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[22] [23] The Raiders used four first-round picks in the 1960s to select players—Roman Gabriel, Dale Hackbart, Tony Lorick, and Joe Rutgens—who chose to sign with the NFL instead.[24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

Player selections

Key
SymbolMeaning
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Selected number one overall
Position abbreviations
CCenter
CBCornerback
DBDefensive back
DEDefensive end
DTDefensive tackle
GGuard
KPlacekicker
LBLinebacker
PPunter
QBQuarterback
RBRunning back
SSafety
TTackle
TETight end
WRWide receiver
Season! scope="col"
PickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1960TerritorialQBWisconsinFirst round was territorial selections. Signed for the NFL's Green Bay Packers instead.[29]
19614DTIllinoisSigned for the NFL's Washington Redskins instead
19622QBNC StateSigned for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams instead
1963Pick traded to Dallas Texans
19647RBArizona StateSigned for the NFL's Baltimore Colts instead
19653TMemphis
1966Did not make any selections until the seventh round[30]
196717GTexas A&M-Kingsville
196825WRTennessee State
196922DTSyracuse
197024TEMorgan State
197119DBOhio State
197221WRVillanova
197323PSouthern Mississippi
197419TFlorida A&M
197524DBOhio State
1976Pick traded to Green Bay Packers
1977Pick traded to Green Bay Packers
1978Pick traded to Green Bay Packers
1979Pick traded to Los Angeles Rams
198015QBBYU
198121DBTexas TechPick received from Houston Oilers
23GWashingtonMoved up draft order in trade with Buffalo Bills
198210RBUSC
198326CUSC
1984Pick traded to New England Patriots
198523WRFlorida State
198624DEPittsburgh
198715TMissouri
19886WRNotre Dame
9DBTennesseePick received from Houston Oilers
25DEIllinoisMoved up draft order in trade with San Francisco 49ers
1989Pick traded to Chicago Bears
199011DEArizona
199124QBUSC
199216DTClemson
199312DBTexas A&M
199422LBMichigan State
199518RBWashington
19969TEOhio StateMoved down draft order in trade with Houston Oilers
19972DTUSCMoved up draft order in trade with New Orleans Saints
19984DBMichigan
23GFloridaMoved up draft order in trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
199918GGeorgia
200017KFlorida State
200128DBFlorida State
200217DBMiamiPick received from Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Moved up draft order in trades with Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons.
23LBNorthwestern
200331DBCalifornia
32DEColoradoPick received from Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20042TIowa
200523DBNebraskaOriginal pick traded to Minnesota Vikings. Pick received from New York Jets. Moved up draft order in trade with Seattle Seahawks.
20067DBTexas
20071QBLSU
20084RBArkansas
20097WRMaryland
20108LBAlabama
2011Pick traded to New England Patriots
2012Pick traded to Cincinnati Bengals
201312DBHoustonMoved down draft order in trade with Miami Dolphins
20145LBBuffalo
20154WRAlabama
201614SWest Virginia
201724CBOhio State
201815TUCLAMoved down draft order in trade with Arizona Cardinals
20194DEClemson
24RBAlabamaPick received from Chicago Bears
27SMississippi StatePick received from Dallas Cowboys
202012WRAlabama
19CBOhio StatePick received from Chicago Bears
202117TAlabama
2022Pick traded to Green Bay Packers
20237DETexas Tech
202413TEGeorgia

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Astbury . Matt . How many teams are in the NFL? Who plays in which division? . . June 17, 2024 . en-CA . April 10, 2023 . June 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628193920/https://www.dazn.com/en-CA/news/american-football/how-many-teams-are-in-the-nfl-who-plays-in-which-division/13wrouygqbx6i10bvjo1kz2ljj . live .
  2. Web site: Team Facts . . March 18, 2024 . March 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318183542/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/las-vegas-raiders/team-facts/ . live .
  3. Web site: Other football leagues of the past . . March 18, 2024 . en . December 12, 2008 . April 10, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190410035024/http://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=3764806 . live .
  4. Web site: Carter . Bob . ESPN Classic – Rozelle made NFL what it is today . . March 18, 2024 . April 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402025947/https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/rozelle_pete.html . live .
  5. Web site: Team History . . March 18, 2024 . March 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318182041/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/las-vegas-raiders/team-history/ . live .
  6. Web site: Scott . Jelani . Raiders officially announce 'Las Vegas Raiders' title . . March 18, 2024 . January 22, 2020 . February 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207145030/https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-officially-announce-las-vegas-raiders-title-0ap3000001098555 . live .
  7. Web site: Allegiant Stadium Building Stats . March 22, 2024 . . en . November 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211115193355/https://www.allegiantstadium.com/stadium/about-allegiant-stadium . live .
  8. Web site: NFL Draft Profile – NFL Draft . . February 7, 2024 . December 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217031316/http://www.espn.com/nfldraft/research/event/profile?eventId=0 . live .
  9. News: Sam . Farmer . What makes them tick . . February 7, 2024 . April 26, 2008 . February 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207135240/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-26-sp-nfl26-story.html . live .
  10. Web site: Chad . Reuter . Who will be the best pro RB? Martin vs. Miller vs. Wilson . . February 7, 2024 . April 13, 2012 . June 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610122157/https://www.nfl.com/news/who-will-be-the-best-pro-rb-martin-vs-miller-vs-wilson-09000d5d8284a7d0 . live .
  11. Web site: NFL 2021 Draft date: when and where is it taking place? . . en-us . February 18, 2021 . November 15, 2023 . January 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129070037/https://en.as.com/en/2021/02/18/nfl/1613653757_815367.html . live .
  12. Web site: The rules of the NFL Draft . . November 14, 2023 . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101040705/https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/ . live .
  13. The AFL: A Football Legacy . January 22, 2001 . June 9, 2010 . . Cross, B. Duane . December 17, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091217064300/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/01/22/afl_history_2/ . dead .
  14. Web site: NFL History by Decade: 1961–1970 . June 9, 2010 . . February 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070205052436/http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1961-1970 . dead.
  15. News: Time Changes for 2008 NFL Draft . April 22, 2008 . June 9, 2010 . . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026144408/http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d807e6d6a&template=with-video&confirm=true . October 26, 2012 .
  16. Web site: October 28, 2009 . The AFL's first draft . December 14, 2023 . . en . August 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220803001231/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2009/10/news-the-afl-s-first-draft/ . live .
  17. News: November 22, 1960 . Auburn Ace First AFL Draft Pick . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203033247/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-californian-auburn-ace-first-afl-dra/136809605/ . February 3, 2024 . December 14, 2023 . . 15 . clipping . . United Press International.
  18. Web site: Las Vegas Raiders All-Time Draft History . . March 11, 2024 . en . August 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829142433/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rai/draft.htm . live .
  19. Web site: Backdraft: Oakland Raiders . . April 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308202226/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2011/04/news-backdraft-oakland-raiders/ . March 8, 2024 . live . March 8, 2024 . en.
  20. Web site: Draft History . . March 8, 2024 . March 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308202534/https://www.raiders.com/history/draft-history . live .
  21. Web site: Russo . Ralph D. . 2024 NFL Draft: List of first round picks . . April 26, 2024 . en . April 26, 2024 . April 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240426090416/https://apnews.com/article/nfl-draft-2024-list-first-round-picks-9ec2cdb77fbeefdd5d7aacfaa3da9b74 . live .
  22. Web site: Hall of Famers by Draft Round . . March 11, 2024 . en . April 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425164300/https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-draft-round/ . live .
  23. Web site: Mosher . Marcus . March 29, 2023 . Every first-round pick ever made by the Raiders . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529092027/https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/lists/every-first-round-pick-ever-made-by-the-raiders/ . May 29, 2023 . March 11, 2024 . USA Today.
  24. Gutierrez . Paul . Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Roman Gabriel . . March 8, 2024 . en-us . December 7, 1970 . March 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308201455/https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/10/27/los-angeles-rams-quarterback-roman-gabriel-december-7-1970 . live .
  25. Web site: Gates . Christopher . Minnesota Vikings By The Numbers: #49 . . . March 18, 2024 . en . July 20, 2017 . March 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318174944/https://www.dailynorseman.com/2017/7/20/16002336/minnesota-vikings-by-the-numbers-49 . live .
  26. Web site: Griffin . David . The Raiders Part 1 . Exposure.co . May 13, 2024 . August 7, 2017 . May 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510175547/https://raiders.exposure.co/the-raiders-part-one . live .
  27. Web site: Edwards . Levi . April 10, 2023 . Who have the Raiders taken before with the No. 7 pick? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308201130/https://www.raiders.com/news/who-have-the-raiders-taken-before-with-the-number-7-pick-2023-nfl-draft . March 8, 2024 . March 8, 2024 . Las Vegas Raiders.
  28. Web site: Paskal . Eddit . February 5, 2015 . A Look at The History of the No. 4 Pick . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314133932/https://www.raiders.com/news/a-look-at-the-history-of-the-no-4-pick-14889695 . March 14, 2024 . March 14, 2024 . Las Vegas Raiders.
  29. Web site: Hartman . Sid . Vikings, Raiders share a link to NFL history . . March 18, 2024 . August 21, 2015 . March 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318174945/https://www.startribune.com/vikings-raiders-share-a-link-to-nfl-history/322469011/ . live .
  30. News: Hand . Jack . And So Virginia, Santa Is For Real . April 10, 2024 . . . November 30, 1965 . 12 . clipping . . April 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240425134930/https://www.newspapers.com/article/wichita-falls-times-and-so-virginia-san/145111686/ . live .

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