Silver And Black Pride
This summer, Silver and Black Pride has been diving through the Las Vegas Raiders’ draft history and looking back at each class since the organization moved. Up next is the 2023 draft class, which features nine picks and only three remain on the roster. Also, the three players who remain with the organization are entering the final years of their rookie contracts, adding intrigue to this edition of the series.
This will also be the final lookback of the summer since the entire 2024 class and the majority of 2025 are still with the Raiders.
Raiders Stats: 50 games, 91 tackles, 16 TFLs, 12 sacks (3 seasons)
Post-Raiders Stats: N/A
Current Team: New Orleans Saints
Wilson adds to the long list of first-round busts in the organization’s history, as he never caught on in Vegas and recorded just seven starts despite being a Top 10 pick. He was a solid run defender but didn’t put it together as a pass-rusher, leading to the Texas Tech product getting traded for a fifth-round pick–which the Raiders used on Arizona safety Dalton Johnson–to the Saints. So, 2026 will be a fresh start with a new team for Wilson, and he’ll have something to prove since the Saints didn’t pick up his fifth-year option.
Raiders Stats: 38 games, 83 catches, 788 yards, 3 TDs (3 seasons)
Post-Raiders Stats: N/A
Current Team: Raiders
It’s safe to say Mayer hasn’t lived up to the billing yet. He was considered a good value pick at the top of the second round but has never amassed more than 350 yards in a season and has been inconsistent as a blocker. Granted, missing time due to injury over the years and having to step away from the team for an extended period during the 2024 campaign play major factors in the lack of production. Regardless, this feels like the “now or never” type of season for the Notre Dame product, where he’s looking to prove he can be a valuable second tight end in Klint Kubiak’s 12-personnel-heavy offense.
Raiders Stats: 6 games, 4 tackles, 0 TFLs, 0 sacks (1 season)
Post-Raiders Stats: 17 games, 37 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2.5 sacks (1 season)
Current Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Taking Young in the third round was such a bad pick that it sparked an internet rumor that the Raiders meant to take the other Byron Young, who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams seven spots later. The Alabama defensive tackle was highly overdrafted and quickly flamed out in Vegas, hardly seeing the field as a rookie before getting cut at the end of training camp in year two. Young got picked up by the Eagles and sat for all of 2024 with an injury, but he was a decent depth player in their defensive line rotation last year.
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