ESPN expert praises Raiders' selection of Auburn's Keyron Crawford

The Las Vegas Raiders made one of the more intriguing picks in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft when they selected Auburn EDGE rusher Keyron Crawford with the No. 67 overall pick.

Crawford produced solid numbers during his time in Auburn, recording 58 tackles with 10.8 for a loss over 24 games in two seasons. He continues to progress despite playing the game for only five years, which is why ESPN's Field Yates calls the Raiders' selection of Crawford one of his favorite picks of the NFL draft.

Crawford began his football career as a senior in high school, yet he has quickly figured out how to be an effective pass rusher. He was a more disruptive edge rusher in 2025 than Auburn teammate Keldric Faulk, who went No. 31 to the Titans.

Though Crawford is still learning nuances of the position, his ability shines on tape. I am a big fan of Las Vegas' picks to build around quarterback Fernando Mendoza and shore up the defense.

Crawford was Auburn's top EDGE rusher last season by logging 36 tackles and five sacks, compared to Keldric Faulk's 29 tackles and two sacks. However, Faulk's 6-6, 285-pound frame and high pre-season draft attention led Faulk to become the first Auburn player selected in the first round of the NFL draft since 2020. However, Crawford's size is similar to that of the Raiders' EDGE rusher Maxx Crosby, who will be a great mentor to Crawford during training camp and beyond. It will be exciting to watch how quickly Crawford develops into a quality NFL EDGE rusher.