2018 Oakland Raiders Draft Picks
Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Kolton Miller #15 overall (first round):

The Raiders decided to strengthen their offensive line with their first-round pick in 2018, selecting Miller out of UCLA. The pick received a lot of criticism at the time despite him being named Second Team All-PAC 12 in 2017, but Miller ended up beating out Donald Penn to become the team’s starting left tackle his rookie season. The team signed Trent Brown to a record-breaking contract the next offseason, but he was forced to move to the right side as Jon Gruden wanted to keep Miller at left tackle.

P.J. Hall #57 overall (second round):

With their second-round pick, the Raiders went to the defensive side of the ball by taking Hall out of Sam Houston State. Hall was named to the First Team All-Southland during all four of his college years while also being named an FCS All-American in his last two seasons. Hall’s junior season was his best as he was named the Southland Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS.

Brandon Parker #65 overall (third round):

Offensive line was clearly a focus for the Raiders in 2018 as Parker became their second drafted in the first three rounds. In four seasons at North Carolina A&T, Parker did not allow a single sack. He was named First Team All-MEAC his final three seasons, MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year his final three seasons and a two-time FCS All-American.

Arden Key #85 overall (third round):

Key arguably had the best college career off all of the Raiders’ 2018 draft picks as he not only played in the SEC at LSU, but he excelled. The defensive end was named a Freshman All-American his first season, and then his second season he set a school record with 12 sacks, earning First Team All-SEC honors.

Nick Nelson #110 overall (fourth round):

The Raiders went cornerback with their fourth-round pick, selecting Nelson out of Wisconsin. He was coming off an outstanding season in 2017 in which he was named First Team All-Big-Ten.

Maurice Hurst #140 overall (fifth round):

Outside of Miller, Hurst has had the most professional success of the Raiders’ 2018 draft picks. He was not only named First Team All-Big-Ten in his final season at Michigan in 2017, but he was also named a Consensus All-American. He was projected to be a first-round pick, but slipped all the way to the fifth round due to a heart condition and the Raiders happily picked him up. Hurst quickly earned a starting job his rookie season and has remained a mainstay on the Raiders’ defensive line.

Johnny Townsend #173 overall (fifth round):

The Raiders thought they found their punter of the future when they drafted Townsend in the fifth round out of Florida. He had the highest punting average in the country in 2016 at 47.9 yards, which was also a school record. Unfortunately, that did not translate to success with the Raiders as he was waived after just one season in favor of A.J. Cole.

Azeem Victor #216 overall (sixth round):

Victor was First Team All-Pac 12 selection at Washington in 2016, but the linebacker’s 2017 season was cut short due to a DUI suspension. That did not stop the Raiders from taking him in the sixth round, although he never played a game for the Silver and Black as he was waived before the start of the 2018 regular season and quickly added to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad.

Marcell Ateman #228 overall (seventh round):

Ateman improved in all four of his seasons at Oklahoma State, including a senior season in which he had 59 receptions for 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns. That success hasn’t translated to the pros though as the wide receiver has moved back and forth between the Raiders’ active roster and practice squad for much of his career.