Las Vegas Raiders NFL Draft Picks & Grades 2022: Dylan Parham Could Be a Year One Starter on a Bad Offensive Line

The Raiders didn’t have a first or second-round pick in this draft as they both belonged to the Packers following their trade for Davante Adams. That trade sent Las Vegas into a win-now mindset as they extended Derek Carr’s contract. However, with needs in the trenches on both sides of the ball, this draft maintained importance for the Raiders to fill out the roster. This article will include a complete draft recap for the Raiders with analysis and grades for each selection.

Las Vegas Raiders Draft Picks 2022

Round 3 No. 90 OG Dylan Parham
Round 4 No. 122 RB Zamir White
Round 4 No. 126 DT Neil Farrell Jr.
Round 5 No. 175 DT Matthew Butler
Round 7 No. 238 OG Thayer Munford
Round 7 No. 250 RB Brittain Brown

Overall Draft Grade: B

Despite hosting the event, the Raiders didn’t choose their first player until the 90th pick, and they went with a very needs-based approach. Their first pick, Dylan Parham, in the third round, will likely be a starter this year on the interior of the offensive line. Zamir White helps round out the running back room, while Thayer Munford could earn some playing time depending on injuries and other players’ successes or failures.

The Raiders are also set to face significant attrition on the defensive front, with Jonathan Hankins, Vernon Butler, Clelin Ferrell, and Andrew Billings all set to become free agents in 2023. Therefore, the emphasis on the defensive line on Day 3 makes sense, with Neil Farrell Jr. and Matthew Butler possibly stepping into significant roles as soon as next season.

It’s difficult to complain about a draft class when there was just a single pick, not on Day 3, but the Raiders did a solid job of acquiring talent to fill out the roster in this class. New general manager Dave Ziegler also executed a couple of shrewd trades, and this draft included solid work from his staff overall.

The Las Vegas Raiders pick Memphis Guard Dylan Parham at No. 90 overall.

ZERO sacks allowed in 511 pass-blocking snaps in 2021 🗣 pic.twitter.com/twvshoDwr2

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 30, 2022

Las Vegas Raiders Draft Grades 2022

Round: 3 Pick: 90 / Dylan Parham, OG, Memphis

The Raiders took an offensive lineman with their first draft pick, which I expected heavily. I’m not sure they could have landed a better one late on Day 2 than Dylan Parham, especially after trading down a few spots and picking up extra Day 3 compensation. Parham likely slid down the board due to his slight 6’3”, 311-pound frame and lack of experience against the Power Five competition. However, Parham only allowed 19 total pressures across 1,047 pass-blocking snaps (1.8%) at tackle and guard over the last two seasons, per Pro Football Focus. Despite the experience at tackle, he’ll end up a guard or center in the NFL due to his smaller stature. However, Parham is an excellent athlete with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.81, and he’ll likely win a starting role in the interior by the time the season starts.

Grade: A-

Round: 4 Pick: 122 / Zamir White, RB, Georgia

I was a big fan of Zamir White coming into this draft with his violent running style, thick 5’11”, 214-pound frame, and elite athleticism with a 9.82 RAS. White tore his ACL twice in 2017 and 2018, but he bounced back and didn’t lose any of his burst and explosiveness after those injuries. White’s third-down production at Georgia was minimal – he only had 17 career catches – he averaged 5.3 YPC for his career, and he’s a strong fit for new head coach Josh McDaniels’s offense. Vegas likely had more pressing needs at this point in the draft, but with Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake, both free agents after this season, White has the opportunity to become the Raiders’ starter as soon as next year.

Grade: B

The Las Vegas Raiders pick Georgia RB Zamir White at No. 122 overall.

87.5 PFF grade in 2021 (3rd among SEC RBs) 🐶 pic.twitter.com/GjKi3eMGx7

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 30, 2022

Round: 4 Pick: 126 / Neil Farrell Jr., DT, LSU

Neil Farrell Jr.’s breakout season in 2021 showcased his exciting potential as a nose tackle with pass-rushing and run-stopping upside. PFF tracked Farrell with 5+ pressures in back-to-back games in 2021 against Ole Miss and Alabama, and there were periods where he was unstoppable as a pass-rusher. His 11.4% run-stop rate was also elite last season as it came just behind Devonte Wyatt’s 11.5% rate. However, Farrell’s combine was highly disappointing as he landed with a brutal 0.86 RAS. That score hardly aligns with his production at LSU, but it’s why he fell this far down the board, and it stacks the odds against his ability to succeed.

Grade: B-

Round: 5 Pick: 175 / Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee

At 6’3”, 297 lbs, Butler is much more a 3-technique prospect than Farrell, who best projects as a nose tackle. Butler’s 1.69-second 10-yard split at the combine highlights the explosive first step that he put to good use in 2021 with 31 pressures that were a career-high by a decent margin. Butler was a late bloomer as a fifth-year senior at Tennessee, but his athleticism and improved production in 2021 suggest the potential to be a solid starter in the NFL. At this point in the draft, finding a player with his potential at a position of need is a solid move.

Grade: B

The Las Vegas Raiders pick Tennessee DL Matthew Butler at No. 175 overall.

FIFTY-ONE defensive stops since 2019 (2nd among SEC DLs) 💥 pic.twitter.com/owGpTTK8Gz

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 30, 2022

Round: 7 Pick: 238 / Thayer Munford, OG, Ohio State

While Aidan Hutchinson absolutely abused Thayer Munford in that highlight clip that was shown several times during the draft live broadcast, there has to be more of a reason that he fell to the seventh round. Munford is highly experienced, with over 3,000 career snaps for Ohio State, and his technical refinement provides a solid baseline of production. Munford took a step back last season as he allowed 16 pressures on 438 pass-blocking snaps per PFF as he transitioned from tackle to guard, and that’s concerning long-term. Still, with his large frame and extensive experience, he’s a great depth piece for a poor Raiders’ offensive line.

Grade: A-

Round: 7 Pick: 250 / Brittain Brown, RB, UCLA

I’ll never be a massive fan of taking two running backs in the same draft, but I don’t mind it as much with a late seventh-round pick. However, I fail to see why Brittain Brown’s skill set couldn’t be had as an undrafted free agent. After his freshman season, he never handled more than 102 carries again, and he only has 41 career catches through five seasons of play. He also hasn’t returned a kick or a punt since 2018. In a loaded running back room, I’m not sure if Brown even makes the team.

Grade: C

That's a wrap 🎬

Our 2022 Draft class. pic.twitter.com/BVFDLKVt1x

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 1, 2022