The Las Vegas Raiders made a colossal misstep during the 2021 NFL Draft by selecting Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood with the 17th overall pick. The 25-year-old was envisioned as Las Vegas’ long-term solution at right tackle but was soon shifted to guard, struggling at both positions. His rookie year was particularly rough, allowing eight sacks and 65 QB pressures in 708 pass-blocking snaps.
Leatherwood’s performance did not improve, and after a lackluster showing during the 2022 training camp and preseason, he was waived after just one season with the team. The 6-foot-5, 312-pound lineman bounced around with the Bears and Browns before recently signing with the Chargers on May 29.
The Raiders’ decision to reach for Leatherwood in the draft is a mistake that can never be undone. However, Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team reimagined a better scenario in his 2021 NFL re-draft. In Mosher’s redo, the Raiders select former UCLA and current Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips with the 17th pick instead of Leatherwood.
Mosher’s take on the re-drafted selection sheds light on what could have been for the Silver and Black: “It’s really unfortunate that Jaelan Phillips tore his Achilles at the end of the 2023 season because he was on his way to stardom in Miami. Phillips has recorded 22.0 sacks in 26 career starts (42 games) and is among the best pure pass rushers in the league. Pairing him with Maxx Crosby would keep offensive coordinators in the AFC up at night.”
Despite his season-ending injury in 2023, Phillips remains one of the NFL’s most promising young pass rushers. The 25-year-old was on pace for a career-best season last year, racking up seven sacks and 27 QB pressures in just eight games. His dominant 2022 campaign saw him post seven sacks and 70 QB pressures, earning an impressive 89.8 pass-rush grade.
The Raiders missed out on the chance to create a fearsome pass-rushing duo with Maxx Crosby and Jaelan Phillips by opting for Alex Leatherwood, who didn’t even last two seasons in Las Vegas. The decision remains a cautionary tale in draft history, highlighting the impact of choosing potential over proven performance.
In an alternate universe where the Raiders picked Phillips, AFC offensive coordinators would be losing sleep over the nightmare tandem of Phillips and Crosby. Instead, they’re left pondering what could have been, as Leatherwood’s brief and tumultuous stint in Las Vegas becomes a footnote in franchise history.
