The Las Vegas Raiders spent their first two picks addressing offensive needs, but in the third round, they went after possibly the team’s biggest need — cornerback.
With the 68th pick, the Raiders selected Darien Porter, the cornerback out of Iowa State. The team opted for Porter over cornerbacks Shavon Revel Jr., out of East Carolina, and Azareye’h Thomas from Florida State.
With the 98th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they selected offensive guard Caleb Rogers from Texas Tech
Las Vegas Raiders Select OL Caleb Rogers In the Third Round
HT 6′5″ | WT 312 | AGE 23
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Caleb Rogers as the 11th-best guard in the 2025 NFL Draft class, writing, “Rogers needs continued technical refinement with his hands and posture, especially inside at guard, but his blend of foot quickness, play strength, and competitive toughness creates optimism for his pro transition. He projects as a versatile backup with spot-starter potential.”
Cole Rogers brings exceptional experience to the professional level, having been a four-year starter at Texas Tech. He amassed 4,331 offensive snaps in college, making 55 consecutive starts across four different positions and developing under three different offensive line coaches. In former offensive coordinator Zach Kittley’s scheme, which featured heavy zone and counter concepts with some gap-based principles (pin-pull, etc.), Rogers primarily played right tackle.
Rogers demonstrates efficient movement skills, effectively reaching his landmarks and anchoring in pass protection. He excels as a pulling lineman in the run game, where he can build momentum, locate targets, and deliver impactful blocks in space. While he possesses strong hands, his balance and pad level can become liabilities when attempting to counter agile pass rushers or sustain blocks in the run game.