While the Las Vegas Raiders could very well come away with a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft — whether via trade up, trade back, or staying put — taking a right tackle stands as another possibility at No. 13 overall.
This is a good year to need a tackle, as the draft class is widely considered very strong at the position. As a result, the Raiders should come away with a long-term solution at some point over the first two days. However, the longer they wait, the less likely it is they'll find a Year 1 starter.
There are three offensive tackles in particular the Raiders should have a strong interest in at No. 13 overall. Notre Dame's Joe Alt is excluded here, though, as he's highly unlikely to be on the board when Las Vegas is on the clock.
OT JC Latham, Alabama
Latham is a massive human being, standing at 6-foot-6 and 342 pounds. And, he's one of the most pro-ready tackles, especially among those slated to live on the right side.
The Alabama product doesn't offer a ton in terms of athleticism, but he's got ridiculous power that will be a major asset in the run game and he'll be above-average, at worst, in pass protection.
Latham offers options, also. If he doesn't pan out at tackle, he could slide inside and be a very effective guard for years to come.
OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
It feels like the hype surrounding Fashanu has waned a bit since the college football season, and it didn't help that he wasn't able to complete drills at the combine after suffering an injury. He did take part in Penn State's Pro Day but was clearly not 100%.
Fashanu offers more than Latham in terms of athleticism, but he's going to need more development at the next level than the Alabama product, who will enter the NFL as a better run-blocker and pass protector than Fashanu.
Even still, Fashanu isn't that far behind and has the goods to be a Year 1 starter. On top of that, he'll be a better option to slide over to left tackle down the road if the Raiders need it.
OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
Fuaga's stock rose during the college football season and that has only continued in the months since.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, Fuaga has surprisingly quick feet to go along with impressive power, which makes him a plus run-blocker and pass-protector out of the gate.
Making Fuaga even more intriguing and safe is the fact that he could be a tremendous guard at the next level, also. If things don't work out at tackle, he'll have another avenue to contribute.