Analyst makes surprising decision on best pick in Raiders draft

For the most part, the Las Vegas Raiders earned significant praise from the football world for their work in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Headlined by sixth overall pick running back Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders attacked multiple needs. With three receivers and two offensive linemen and defensive linemen each, the Raiders should have no concerns for depth at those positions. Spots like linebacker and slot cornerback still could use some addressing, but the Raiders came away with a talented group of players who can make an impact early on.

One analyst, however, has tread off the beaten path, describing two of the more surprising picks the Raiders made as their personal favorites in the draft.

Could these two late picks make a surprising impact for the Raiders?

When describing the best picks of each team in the draft, ESPN’s Kaylen Kahler arrived to a surprising conclusion for the Raiders: sixth-round picks wide receiver Tommy Mellott and quarterback Cam Miller.

“I really loved the back-to-back FCS picks by Las Vegas,” wrote Kahler. “Mellott will likely convert from quarterback to receiver and become a Taysom Hill-like gadget player on special teams. Miller was a favorite developmental quarterback for several scouts. He had a really impressive pro day and could prove to be a great pick.”

Ironically, both picks have a clear influence from Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.

With Mellott’s conversion from quarterback to wide receiver, he will instantly draw comparisons to Julian Edelman, who made the same position change and became one of Brady’s favorite targets on the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, Miller is a sixth-round developmental quarterback, much like Brady was when he was drafted in 2000. Neither is really expected to have the same level of success as either one, but it remains excellent value if either one comes close.

If one or even both of Mellott and Miller live up to Kahler’s heavy praise, the Raiders will be much better for it.