Raiders Picking No. 13 in NFL Draft for First Time

Over the illustrious history of the Las Vegas Raiders, if they maintain their current pick, 2024 will be the first time they have selected from the No. 13 position in the NFL Draft.

By defeating the Denver Broncos in the season's final game to finish at 8-9, the Las Vegas Raiders slid to the 13th overall pick of the National Football League Draft, a spot where the Silver and Black have had neither good luck nor bad.

That’s because, surprisingly, the Raiders have never had the No. 13 pick since the first common draft involving both the established NFL and the flourishing American Football League was held in 1967 at the Gotham Hotel in New York as part of the pro football merger, which became complete in 1970.

The only time the Raiders ever had the 13th pick in any draft came when they selected running back George Fleming of Washington with the fifth pick of the second round of the 1963 AFL Draft.

“I don’t give a damn about potentially getting a higher draft pick,” Raiders All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby said, giving the players’ side of the story heading into the final game of the season. “You hear about that s— all the time. I don’t want to hear none of that. I go out there to win and play at my best.

“We plan on playing at our best, and we have to go out and find a way to get a win. We don’t care about where we pick in the draft.”

And so the Raiders did.

Over the illustrious history of the Las Vegas Raiders, 2024, if they maintain their current pick, will be the first time they have selected from the No. 13 position in the NFL Draft / Photo courtesy of the NFL

ESPN’s NFL Draft expert has cornerback Cooper DeJean of Iowa rated as the 13th-best player in the draft.

While the Raiders have not had any notable players selected at No. 13, here are some notable players the Silver and Black have chosen in the neighborhood in recent years:

Tackle Alex Leatherwood of Alabama with the 17th overall selection in 2021; wide receiver Henry Ruggs III of Alabama with the 12th pick in 2020; safety Karl Joseph of West Virginia at No. 14 in 2016; star left tackle Kolton Miller of UCLA with the 15th pick in 2015; defensive back D. J. Hayden of Houston with the 12th overall selection in 2013; defensive back Phillip Buchanan of Miami Fla. at No. 17 in 2002, and kicker Sebastian Janikowski of Florida State, also with the 17th overall pick in 2000.

Players selected at No. 13 by other teams who eventually played for the Raiders include defensive back Burgess Owens of Miami (Fla.), who was chosen by the New York Jets in 1973; running back-tight end Earl Cooper of Rice, who was picked by the San Francisco 49ers in 1980; offensive lineman James Fitzpatrick of USC, selected by the San Diego Chargers in 1986, and defensive end Kamerion Wembley of Florida State, who was taken by the Cleveland Browns in 2006.

Aside from defensive end Tyree Wilson from last year, the only first-round picks in the last six years still playing for the Raiders are All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs and standout left tackle Kolton Miller.

The Raiders had nine picks in last year’s NFL Draft, their most since 2019 when they selected three eventual Pro Bowlers: Jacobs, Crosby, and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.

Among the great players in NFL history selected with the 13th pick of the draft include:

Clarence “Ace” Parker, a quarterback, running back, and defensive back Duke, who was chosen by the Brooklyn Dodgers football team in 1937; Bob Lilly, a defensive tackle at Texas Christian, who was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in 1967; running back Franco Harris of Penn State, who was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972; tight end Kellen Winslow of Missouri, chosen by the Chargers in 1973, tight end Tony Gonzalez of the University of California, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald of Pit, chosen by the Los Angeles Rams in 2014.

All have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, except Donald, who probably will be in the first year he is eligible after retiring.

The Raiders can only hope for their own Lucky 13.

From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.

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