In the 2023 NFL Draft which was held in July, the Las Vegas Raiders made one of the biggest surprises of the year by choosing Tyree Wilson in the seventh pick. Vegas could have used help at defensive end, but it was clearly not desperate enough to take one in the top 10 while passing on other positions of necessity for the edge rusher from the Red Raiders.
Wilson played poorly in his first season with New York and began to be hailed as a bust from the stands), but he has been better in Year 2. In the second round, Las Vegas took Michael Mayer to do what he done in his rookie, Year 1, back in the 2023 season.
Round 3 and 4 have introduced more new faces and Bryon Young, Tre Tucker, Jakorian Bennett, and Aidan O’ Connell of which Young, Tucker and Bennett are the valuable players for Las vegas in 2024. Young was released this summer and in Philadelphia, Tucker has done some good things at WR, Bennett is a good NFL caliber corner back, and O’Connell was named the starting QB two weeks ago before getting hurt.
But, if after their rookie season most of the draft class was average at best, this group is moving in the right direction.
Second year players on the Raiders improving and heading in the right path
The Raiders are getting good production from others in the 2023 NFL Draft class that include, Wilson in Year 2. He suffered an injury his rookie campaign and average performances to become a terror coming off the edge for the Silver and Black.
He has the physiques and strength to fit as a Raiders football player in the coming years and is equally good to see him performing on Sundays.
He had a good summer and some moments in 2024, but Tucker is unpredictable sometimes, that’s the man for him. Bennett is on the receiving end of strong commendations this year in his second season and seems headed to becoming a long term fixture in the Raiders’ secondary.
Wilson, Tucker Bennett have got the potentiality to be lifetime Raiders and as far as O’Connell is concerned he would a very good backup quarterback who can ply his trade in different leagues for years.
Last, we have a man who played okay as a rookie, but is not with the team anymore, at least for the time being, due to personal issues. The expectation is that Michael Mayer can return healthy and get back on the field for the Silver and Black as he seemed to have lots of potential in his year one and with adding Brock Bowers at the tight end position moving forward.
