While the Raiders‘ 29-19 Sunday loss versus the Denver Broncos sank Las Vegas to now seven consecutive defeats, the week itself also saw the Raiders improve their 2025 NFL draft positioning.
Thanks to a win by the Cleveland Browns, the Raiders saw their 2025 NFL draft projections improve. The Browns toppled the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-19, in a shocker on Thursday night in the snow.
Las Vegas got good news elsewhere, too. The Tennessee Titans downed the AFC South-leading Houston Texans, 32-27. The Browns and Titans each improved to 3-8 on the season.
In another surprise, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders, 34-26.
All of the stars didn’t perfectly align, though. Carolina nearly rallied to beat Kansas City, but the Panthers fell 30-27 on Spencer Schrader’s 31-yard field goal as time expired.
Among other teams toward the top of the projected draft boards, the New York Giants were rocked by Tampa Bay, 31-7, and New England fell at Miami, 34-15.
Still, it was a productive week for Raider fans all aboard Team Tank. Las Vegas climbed one spot from No. 4 in the projected draft order to No. 3.
Here’s a look at the updated top 10 in the current 2025 NFL draft order.
Current 2025 NFL draft order:
- No. 1 pick: Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
- No. 2 pick: New York Giants (2-9)
- No. 3 pick: Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
- No. 4 pick: New England (3-9)
- No. 5 pick: Carolina (3-8)
- No. 6 pick: Tennessee (3-8)
- No. 7 pick: New York Jets (3-8)
- No. 8 pick: Cleveland Browns (3-8)
- No. 9 pick: New Orleans (4-7)
- No. 10 pick: Cincinnati (4-7)
As the season heads into Week 13, the Raiders are well positioned toward the top of the 2025 NFL draft board and seem destined to wind up with one of the top selections.
Las Vegas closes with games against Kansas City this coming Friday, at Tampa Bay on Dec. 8, versus Atlanta on Dec. 16, versus Jacksonville on Dec. 22, at New Orleans on Dec. 29 and versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 5.
Las Vegas’ Dec. 22 contest against Jacksonville seemingly looms large on how the top of the draft board will ultimately shake out.
Jacksonville closes with games against Houston, at Tennessee, versus the New York Jets, at Las Vegas, versus Tennessee and at Indianapolis.
The New York Giants close with games at Dallas, versus New Orleans, versus Baltimore, at Atlanta, versus Indianapolis and at Philadelphia.
