The Athletic

● By Staff
It’s the 10-year anniversary. The Las Vegas Raiders’ poor track record of making good picks early in the draft has become an annual talking point. The last draft class where they truly cashed in on their early-round selections came in 2014 when they took edge rusher Khalil Mack, quarterback Derek Carr and guard Gabe Jackson with their first three picks. A decade later, the pressure is on for general manager Tom Telesco to end the proverbial drought. The hiring of head coach Antonio Pierce sent a wave of optimism through team headquarters and the fan base alike, but the on-the-field results will only continue to fall short unless the Raiders start to have much better success in the draft.