Heading into Week 16, the Las Vegas Raiders held the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, trailing only the New York Giants. However, after a 19-14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, their record improved to 3-12, dropping them to the No. 6 pick. The shift could significantly impact their ability to draft a top quarterback, such as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward, who have been linked to the Raiders and Giants.
With the draft order now placing the Giants, New England Patriots, Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns ahead of Las Vegas, the Raiders face a challenging situation. While the Patriots and Jaguars are expected to focus on non-quarterbacks, the Titans and Browns may target quarterbacks, potentially limiting the Raiders’ options.
Despite this, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce remains focused on winning games rather than draft positioning. He told reporters:
“We don’t do this to lose. We don’t do this for anybody’s fantasy football team. Don’t do this for anybody’s draft projections. None of that matters to us. What matters is winning, and that’s all we want to do.”
For Pierce and others within the organization, the focus on winning is understandable. Some players are in contract years and looking to secure future deals, while coaches and front office personnel may be fighting to retain their jobs. For many, a strong finish to the season could provide valuable momentum or job security heading into the offseason.
While fans may hope for higher draft positioning, the team’s emphasis on competing reflects a broader commitment to maintaining professionalism and long-term deve
lopment.