Las Vegas Raiders: College Pro Days Strategy
As the Las Vegas Raiders gear up for the 2025 NFL Draft, slated for April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the upcoming college pro days stand as a cornerstone of their offseason strategy. After a 4-13 season in 2024 that cemented their place at the bottom of the AFC West, the Raiders have seen significant roster upheaval. General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Pete Carroll are navigating the losses of quarterback Gardner Minshew, center Andre James, linebacker Robert Spillane, cornerback Nate Hobbs, and safety Tre’von Moehrig, while welcoming quarterback Geno Smith and a host of free-agent signings. With the 6th pick and two newly awarded compensatory sixth-round picks, but no longer the third-rounder from the Davante Adams trade, these pro days will sharpen the Raiders’ approach to a critical draft.
The roster shakeup began with departures. Minshew, released with a “failed physical” tag after a 9-touchdown, 10-interception stint, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. James, a reliable center for five years, left for free agency, triggering one of the sixth-round compensatory picks. Spillane, the team’s 2024 tackles leader with 158, joined the New England Patriots, earning the second sixth-rounder. Hobbs, a slot corner hampered by injuries, inked with the Green Bay Packers, and Moehrig, a rising safety with 104 tackles, signed a big deal with the Carolina Panthers. These exits left gaping holes, particularly on defense.
In response, Spytek traded the Adams-acquired third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Geno Smith, reuniting the 34-year-old quarterback with Carroll. Smith, fresh off a 4,320-yard season, brings stability, though he’s pushing for a new contract. Free agency bolstered the roster further: running back Raheem Mostert (one year, $2.1 million), linebacker Elandon Roberts (one year, $3 million), safety Jeremy Chinn (replacing Moehrig), and cornerback Eric Stokes (one year, $4 million) joined the fold, while defensive end Malcolm Koonce re-signed (one year, $12 million). These moves patch immediate needs but leave long-term questions for the draft to answer.
College pro days, following the NFL Scouting Combine, offer a close-up look at prospects in tailored drills. With Smith as a bridge quarterback, the Raiders may deprioritize first-round talents like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward, though their late-March workouts will still draw interest. Sanders’ poise and Ward’s dynamism could tempt a future-focused pick if Smith fails.
The offensive line, hurting from James’ departure, is a glaring need after allowing 47 sacks last season. LSU’s Will Campbell and Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr., top rated tackles, will shine at their Baton Rouge and Austin pro days. Either could protect Smith and boost a run game that averaged a measly 79.8 yards per game, even with Mostert’s addition. Defensively, the losses of Spillane, Hobbs, and Moehrig demand reinforcements. Georgia’s Malaki Starks (safety) and Michigan’s Will Johnson (corner), both potential top-10 picks, could anchor a secondary leaning on Chinn and Stokes.
Without the third-round pick, the Raiders’ margin for error shrinks, making the sixth-round compensatory selections crucial for finding contributors. Pro days at smaller programs could uncover sleepers: a linebacker to pair with Roberts, a corner to spell Stokes, or a developmental lineman. Carroll’s defensive expertise and Spytek’s free-agency aggression signal a balanced rebuild, but the draft will test their cohesion with owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady.
As pro days unfold in March, the Raiders’ scouts will comb campuses, aligning prospects with a retooled roster. Smith buys time at quarterback, Mostert and Roberts plug holes, and the top pick offers a cornerstone, but the sixth-rounders could define depth. For a franchise desperate to end a 21-year AFC West title drought, every rep and measurement at these workouts carries weight. The Raiders’ future hinges on nailing this draft, and pro days are where it starts.