Dropped Spots in Draft Order After Loss for the Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders’ playoff hopes officially came to an end with a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in their must-win showdown, and the consequences extend beyond a missed postseason berth—they’ve also dropped several spots in the 2025 NFL Draft order. Dropped Spots in Draft Order After Loss for the Las Vegas Raiders highlights how this defeat shifted the team’s positioning in next year’s draft, complicating their ability to target top-tier prospects and forcing front office adjustments as they plan for the future. For a franchise still in the early stages of a rebuild, every spot in the draft matters, making this slide a significant setback to their long-term roster-building goals.

Dropped Spots in Draft Order After Loss for the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the immediate impact of the Chargers loss: before the game, the Raiders held the 12th overall pick in the draft, thanks to their 7-7 record and a favorable strength of schedule. However, their 24-21 defeat—coupled with wins by other teams with similar records (including the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints)—pushed them down to the 17th overall spot. This five-spot drop might seem minor on paper, but in the NFL draft, where elite talent can vanish quickly, it’s a critical shift. “Every pick in the first round has value, and moving down even a few spots changes the caliber of players you can realistically target,” said NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. “The Raiders were in a position to eye a top edge rusher or offensive tackle at 12; now, at 17, those same prospects might already be off the board.” The loss also means the Raiders now have a lower pick than division rivals like the Denver Broncos (14th overall) and Kansas City Chiefs (28th, due to their playoff berth), putting them at a disadvantage in securing talent to compete within the AFC West.

Dropped Spots in Draft Order After Loss for the Las Vegas Raiders delves into the ripple effects on the team’s draft strategy. Before the loss, the Raiders’ front office had identified several top prospects they believed could address key needs—specifically, a shutdown cornerback to bolster their secondary and a versatile interior offensive lineman to protect quarterback Aidan O’Connell. With the slide to 17th, many of those top targets—like Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry or Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson—are now expected to be selected by teams picking between 10th and 16th. This forces the Raiders to either adjust their wishlist to target second-tier prospects at those positions or consider trading up to reclaim a higher spot, which would require giving up future draft capital. “Trading up is always an option, but it’s a risky one,” said a league source with knowledge of the Raiders’ draft plans. “They’d have to part with a second or third-round pick to move back into the top 12, and that could hurt their ability to add depth later in the draft. It’s a tough balancing act.”

Dropped Spots in Draft Order After Loss for the Las Vegas Raiders examines how the slide impacts the team’s ability to address longstanding needs. The Raiders have struggled with depth at cornerback and offensive line for years, and this draft was seen as a chance to replenish those positions with young, cost-controlled talent. At 12th overall, they could have targeted a “day one starter” at either spot—someone who could step in immediately and make an impact. At 17th, the prospects available are more likely to be “projects” who need a year or two of development, delaying the team’s ability to fix those weaknesses. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this delay is frustrating, as they’re eager to build a competitive roster around O’Connell and star players like Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby. “The goal is to win now while building for the future, but this draft slide makes that harder,” said Raiders general manager Tom Telesco. “We’ll still find good players at 17, but the timeline for them to contribute might be longer than we hoped.”

Dropped Spots in Draft Order After Loss for the Las Vegas Raiders explores potential contingency plans the front office is considering. One option is to focus on positions with deeper talent pools, like wide receiver or defensive tackle, where top prospects might still be available at 17th overall. The Raiders could also target a quarterback of the future, though O’Connell’s recent success makes that less likely. Another plan is to accumulate more picks by trading down further from 17th, which would give them additional selections to address multiple needs. For example, trading down to the early 20s could net them a second-round pick, allowing them to take a cornerback in the first round and an offensive lineman in the second. “Trading down can be a smart move if you trust your scouting department,” said Jeremiah. “The Raiders have a good track record of finding late-round gems, so adding more picks could help them fill multiple holes.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, this approach would require patience, but it could ultimately lead to a more balanced roster than trying to force a pick at a position with thin talent at 17th.

Dropped Spots in Draft Order After Loss for the Las Vegas Raiders wraps up with the broader context of this setback, framing it as a test of the team’s rebuild strategy. While the draft slide is disappointing, it’s not insurmountable—many successful NFL teams have found impact players outside the top 15 (e.g., the Chiefs selected Patrick Mahomes at 10th, but also found Tyreek Hill at 165th). The Raiders’ front office is emphasizing that mindset, reminding fans that draft success depends more on scouting and player development than just draft position. “We’ve built this team by finding players who fit our culture and work hard, regardless of where they’re picked,” said Telesco. “This slide changes our approach, but it doesn’t change our goals.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, the key now is to stay disciplined in their draft strategy, avoid reaching for prospects, and trust that their scouting department can identify talent that other teams might overlook. As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on Telesco and his team to see how they navigate this unexpected setback—and whether they can turn a disappointing loss into a chance to strengthen the roster for years to come.