The 2022 NFL season was a massive letdown for the Las Vegas Raiders. At the beginning of the year, many thought they could end up being a dark-horse Super Bowl candidate. However, they ended up missing the playoffs when everything was said.
Not only did they miss the playoffs, but they were bad enough to net the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
With that in mind, there are plenty of directions the Raiders could go with their first-round selection. Derek Carr is likely to be on his way out of town, which could mean Las Vegas looks to take a rookie quarterback. Or, they could build a team around a player they sign or trade for this offseason.
All of that being said, let’s take a look at four intriguing targets the Raiders could select with the No. 7 overall pick.
4. Peter Skoronski, Offensive Line, Northwestern
One intriguing target could be on the offensive line. There is no question that the Raiders could improve up front and Peter Skoronski would be a perfect fit to do just that.
At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Skoronski could either play tackle or guard. Las Vegas should be very interested in adding a piece that they could move around. This could be a great direction for the Raiders to head.
3. Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
The only reason that Carter is at No. 3 on this list and not higher is simply because he likely won’t be available at pick number seven. Many believe that he could go in the top-three of the draft.
During the 2022 season for the Bulldogs, Carter racked up 32 total tackles to go along with three sacks, two forced fumbles, and three defended passes. He is 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, which would give the Raiders a guy who could stack up the middle of the run defense. Carter would be an ideal fit for Vegas if he’s available.
2. Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, Oregon
Next up, the Raiders could opt to beef up their defensive secondary. Going with a guy like Gonzalez would be a move that no fan should be upset about.
Gonzalez ended up recording 51 total tackles to go along with four interceptions and seven defended passes. At 6-foot-2 and a shade over 200 pounds, he’s a big corner and could go up against some of the stronger opposing wide receivers. Adding some help to the secondary would be a very wise decision for the Raiders.
1. Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
Finally, if the Raiders choose to look for their new franchise quarterback in the draft, Will Levis would be an ideal fit at No. 7 overall. Levis could end up going higher in the draft, but some mock drafts have him slipping to the seventh pick.
Levis is a great IQ quarterback and has a great arm to go along with his IQ. However, he is known for pushing the issue and turning the football over at a higher rate than NFL teams would like. In 2022, Levis completed 65.4 percent of his pass attempts for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
There would be some concerns with drafting Levis, but he could end up being the face of the franchise moving forward and becoming something special.
