Prospects for Raiders to Avoid in 2024 NFL Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders have had a fairly strong offseason thus far. They locked in their head coach by removing the interim tag from Antonio Pierce and secured their general manager by hiring former division rival Tom Telesco.

Las Vegas then made a splash by signing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and added veteran QB insurance by adding Gardner Minshew. While the Raiders did lose right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, it re-signed standout center Andre James.

Now, Las Vegas has the chance to cap a successful offseason with a strong draft. The Raiders have eight total selections, including the 13th overall pick. They should be looking for a mix of players who can contribute right away and those worth developing for the future.

Las Vegas is poised to make a jump in 2024, but it might still be a year or two away from chasing a championship.

With this in mind, let's examine three prospects the Raiders should look to avoid in the draft and why.

OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

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Oklahoma OT prospect Tyler Guyton

With Eluemunor out, the Raiders may consider taking an offensive tackle early. However, Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton, the fifth-ranked tackle on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board, isn't an ideal target for them.

Guyton has a lot of intriguing physical traits, but he's not a polished prospect and is merely good as a run blocker.

"He can eventually bloom into a high-end starter in the NFL, but he will need to be brought along slowly in a conservative scheme and veteran O-line room before bridging that gap," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.

Las Vegas shouldn't be interested in betting on a project too early in the draft because it has third-year tackle Thayer Munford Jr. in the fold. Munford showed a lot of growth in Year 2 and played admirably and has the ability to provide depth at both tackle spots.

If the Raiders target a tackle early, it needs to be one who will immediately unseat Munford.

Guyton's inconsistent run blocking is also a concern for a Raiders team that wants to build a physical offense that can wear down the opposition. We saw glimpses of that concept under Pierce down the stretch in 2023, and Guyton isn't a perfect fit for that mold.

CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan

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Michigan CB prosepct Mike Sainristil

The Raiders also showed flashes of having a top-tier defense late in 2023, and the addition of Wilkins will help tremendously. However, Las Vegas could still use help on the back end, and a versatile cornerback would make a ton of sense in the middle rounds of the draft.

Michigan's Mike Sainristil does possess versatility, but he has limitations that should have Las Vegas looking elsewhere. He's a smaller corner at 5'9" and 182 pounds, and that could force him into a slot-defender role.

"Sainristil played at multiple spots during his time at Michigan, but he looks to be more of a nickel defender in the NFL," Cory Giddings of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "He could provide safety and cornerback depth when in a pinch, but he lacks the overall size for both."

Las Vegas already has a fairly dependable nickel in Nate Hobbs, which would likely leave a player like Sainristil as a pure depth player. That might not be an issue if he's available later on Day 3, but in a fairly top-heavy cornerback class, the former Wolverine probably won't last that long.

Sainristil is the 92nd-ranked overall prospect on the B/R board.

QB Michael Pratt, Tulane

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Tulane QB prospect Michael Pratt

Adding Minshew to a QB room that already includes Aidan O'Connell gives the Raiders some flexibility in this draft. Las Vegas can still target a high-upside quarterback to become the future, but it won't be forced into it if the right opportunity isn't available.

Theoretically, the Raiders could trade up from No. 13 to target a prospect like Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, target a QB like Washington's Michael Penix Jr. at No. 13 or target a prospect in Round 2 or by trading back into Round 1—Penix and Oregon's Bo Nix could be viable targets, depending on how early Round 1 unfolds.

What the Raiders shouldn't do is essentially waste a pick on a low-upside prospect simply for depth behind O'Connell and Minshew. Tulane's Michael Pratt is exactly that sort of prospect.

"His toughness, touch accuracy and moderate athletic ability should help him keep the ship afloat in a pinch," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "However, Pratt's uneven decision-making and lack of high-end traits limit his upside."

Pratt has the tools to be a valuable NFL backup and spot starter, and he'll make sense for plenty of franchises. However, he isn't likely to unseat O'Connell on the depth chart or become Las Vegas' quarterback of the future. The Raiders can and should take a swing at the QB position later this month, but they don't need to go chasing their QB3 on draft weekend.