Why the Raiders Should Stay Put at No. 6

The Las Vegas Raiders are in an enviable spot -- they hold the No. 6 overall pick in a draft with plenty of needy teams that will look to trade up.

While the Raiders could command a high price to the right team, CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin believes they should stay put.

"They've pivoted pretty quickly into win-now mode with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith," he wrote. "This feels like the prime spot to get them a Day 1 contributor, be it a featured back like Ashton Jeanty or a reinforcement for the O-line."

Jeanty, a generational talent, has been the presumptive favorite for the Raiders' selection. With the foundation head coach Pete Carroll is establishing, Jeanty's All-Pro potential could be a significant step forward in the fight for playoff contention.

Per a scouting report from NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, "The threat of what he can do on the ground should create ideal play-action opportunities for his team, allowing his next play-caller to, say, unburden a young quarterback or any other passer being asked to shoulder too much of the offense."

"He’s compact and muscular, but there could be some minor concern surrounding his massive workload in 2024," wrote Zierlein. "This top-flight running back is capable of becoming the face of an offense in a league where the pendulum might be swinging back to the running game. Jeanty has future All-Pro talent."

Our Hondo Carpenter projected the Raiders to use the pick on Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou, a red-hot name in the draft cycle with just a week to go.

"The Raiders’ new GM John Spytek loves linemen, which is how he led in Tampa Bay. With Will Campbell off the board, they take another exceptional offensive lineman in the on-field bully from Missouri," wrote Carpenter in the latest On SI mock draft.