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. With back-to-back picks in the third, the Raiders doubled down on offensive linemen with Charles Grant.
With the sixth pick in the 4th round, the Raiders opted for Dont’e Thornton Jr., wide receiver, Tennessee, and Tonka Hemingway later in that round.
With pick 180 in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues.
Las Vegas Raiders Selected DT JJ Pegues In The 6th Round
HT 6′3″ | WT 309 | AGE 23
Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks JJ Pegues as the 22nd best defensive in the 2025 NFL Draft class, writing, “Pegues is a compactly built athlete with the quickness and play strength to give blockers trouble from different alignments, although his ability to access counters and show better resolve will be his key to carving out a permanent defensive role. His versatility on offense should only boost his chances of locking down a roster spot.”
Pegues presents a unique profile as a defensive lineman, combining atypical movement skills for his size with a history that includes offensive contributions. A two-year starter at Ole Miss, Pegues played across the defensive line in defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s 4-2-5 base scheme, demonstrating versatility by lining up from the A-gap to outside the tackle as a wide rusher.
His path to the defensive line is unconventional; primarily an offensive player in high school, he initially arrived at Auburn as a tight end with limited knowledge of defensive line play. However, he steadily developed his skills over the past three seasons.
Pegues, an Oxford native known as “The Mayor,” possesses exceptional mobility for a 310-pound player, though his playing style is not characterized by overwhelming power. His offensive background, particularly his time as a tight end, has been leveraged effectively by Lane Kiffin, especially in 2024, where he achieved an impressive 85.7 percent conversion rate (18-for-21) in short-yardage situations.