I don't really like Tom Brady, and I regret that a Patriot / TV Announcer has become a part owner of the Raiders. It feels corporate and establishmentarian--two things that the Raiders were born to resist under Al Davis.
Brady also comes across to me as a bit of an attention whore and try-hard. Why would someone in his position otherwise acquiesce to that disgraceful Tom Brady Roast last year?
All that said, I think Tom Brady is a champion, a winner and a competitor, and he is very smart. These things sort of offset my misgivings about him, because if it's one thing that the Raiders have been lacking under Mark Davis, it's smarts.
We can't ignore the Tom Brady effect now, because Mark Davis won't let us: "Bringing in Tom Brady was bringing in somebody on the football side that I had been lacking having here in the organization."
So that brings us to tonight's draft. Of course, Spytek and Carroll will be running the show and they are no slouches--but Brady is no doubt lurking in the background, serving perhaps as a 'kill switch' if Davis starts running with scissors and ordering people to draft Shadeur if he falls to the sixth slot.
Anyhow, those are my thoughts today. Once again I apologize for going dark for a period, this team hasn't done enough to counter the apathy that has crept up on me as we've flailed around under McDaniels and Pierce for the past three years. Thanks, Mark.
But I'm now excited about what comes next. We finally have a head coach who's a grownup, the best QB since Carr and, yes, a smart and proven winner whispering in the owner's ear.
Who would you draft? What do we need to focus on? Bang it here.
Great way to start the 2025 Draft, RT. Nice take!
ReplyDeleteIMO, the jury is still out on Brady. His strength is perceived as someone who can identify QB talent, not just throwing the ball but the intelligence and perseverance needed to be a winner. It's likely the Raiders will draft a QB this weekend, and Brady will be (or should be) at the forefront of that decision-making. Hit or miss, IMO, that pick will be on Brady.
To borrow your words, Mark Davis has been running with scissors and mismanaging his ownership of the Raiders for his entire tenure. I could make the list, but the proof is in his results.
Tonight, perhaps we get to see how it's really supposed to work. Yet, as you perhaps suggested, there may be too many cooks in the kitchen.
As for Skytek, surprisingly, he has some pretty big shoes to fill after Telesco performed his magic in a one-and-done draft last year. Telesco truly drafted the best available player, and it paid off.
Things are about to heat up!
RT, thanks for checking in!
Always appreciate your takes and fidelity here NY Raider! Grab your popcorn!
ReplyDeleteBob pirate,
ReplyDeleteNice blog Raider Take! Go Raidernation!!! Let's be positive and try to have big hopes for the 1st round pick! But I don't see the bold attitude the Raiders had in the draft! I want them to succeed but getting a T this high isn't a good move!
JEANTY!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJeanty was best available player, just like Bowers last year. The guy is a TD machine. With Hunter, Carter and Graham off the board, Jeanty makes sense.
ReplyDeleteNow they need a stud WR!
Interesting that Sanders was there for the taking. Had the Raiders not signed Smith, Sanders would have been the Raiders QB next season.
If Sanders falls too far, do the Raiders trade up to get him?
Bob Pirate
ReplyDeleteGood pick ! but the Brady issue? I think we should give him some off time to let the old guys who know the draft lead the show. RB is good but not the Bo, LT or Barkley guys to dominate defenses but we needed more playmakers Brady needs or might be good as a QB scout.
This is the Raiders best pick since Khalil Mack! Ihave a feeling this is going to be a better draft than the 2014 draft
ReplyDeleteRaiders have a dilemma. With Sanders still on the board, they may have a tough choice to make.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, if they planned on drafting a QB in the 2nd round, Sanders is likely the guy, and they might even trade up to get him.
On the other hand, will they be able to pass on Sanders to take a WR or CB, which are more urgent needs.
The browns could make it all moot. They have two picks before the Raiders in the 2nd round. They could draft Sanders or trade a pick to another team who will. The Browns just made three QB moves, including re-signing Watson.
I'm probably in the camp that, if Sanders is there, take him. But getting a stud WR would have more impact on the 2025 Raiders.
Jeanty was a TD machine last year. That probably changes in the NFL, but his film shows he has tremendous balance and often runs by tacklers. But the NFL is bigger, faster and stronger. Still, we shouldn't have any doubt that the Raiders just upgraded the RB position in a big way.
ReplyDeleteWith Bowers and Jeanty, the Raiders are sure rebuilding from the outside in, we need the core of the roster to catch up so that we don't waste their early career production. Bowers was insane, the Raiders were 4-13.
ReplyDeleteI think Shavon Revel or Aireonte Ersery (RT, Minnesota) are the best players in the 2nd Round. I'd be happy trading down, picking up more picks, and selecting one of these 2 players. I would also be happy with Sanders, don't get me wrong. At this point, I'm looking at need, and biggest impact. If we draft Sanders, I don't think he starts for a few years.
ReplyDeleteI think the Steelers trade up in the 2nd for Sanders. I think we go Defense or O-Line in the second. QB in the 3rd with Shough, and then O-Line/D-Line rest of the way. We need a RT and some guards and depth.
I still think one of the biggest steals in the Draft on O-Line is going to be USC's Jonah Monheim. Dude played every position on the O-Line, and can play all 3 interior positions (C, RG, LG). I think he would be an amazing pick to add depth, and eventually become a starter. I compare him to Feliciano.
I was surprised by how many DT and EDGE players went off the board last night. I felt a lot of those guys were reaches for the first round. James Pearce Jr? Shemar Stewart? Both at EDGE. Kenneth Grant (DT)? Walter Nolen (DT)? Then you had the Doncos drafting Jahdae Barron (CB/U Texas)? Wow, did they completely whiff on their pick.
The dumbest post/reaction I've seen about draft grades is from Underdog NFL on Twitter. He graded the Raiders a C- for selecting Jeanty.
I am going to give my grades on the first round from last night. The first time I've ever done this:
ReplyDeleteTitans - Cam Ward. Obvious A. This totally surprised me. I said earlier that Brian Callahan (the Head Coach) loves the traditional QB, and I thought they were going to grab one like Will Howard or Tyler Shough in later rounds. This is a great pick.
Jags - Travis Hunter. A. Again, great pick, especially if they let him play both sides.
Giants - Abdul Carter. A. Giants went with best available, and Carter adds to their tremendous defense.
Patriots - Will Campbell. B. Pats went for highest need here. They have someone to help protect Maye, but they need more.
Browns - Mason Graham. B Solid DT, and will help with the pass rush in Cleveland. Didn't think he was the best pick here. I really thought they were going to pick Jeanty.
RAAAAIIIIIIIDEEEEEERS! - Ashton Jeanty. A. This is a great pick, and I am glad he fell to us. I was hoping for him or Hunter to fall. Like I said earlier, this is the best pick since Khalil Mack; and I think with he and Bowers; we have 2 weapons comparable to Tomlinson and Gates, Marcus Allen and Todd Christensen, Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell, Maurice Drew-Jones and Fred Taylor.
Jets - Armand Membou. B. I was worried the Raiders might select him. Not a bad pick, but not a great pick either.
Panthers - Tet McMillan. B. I think he is overhyped at WR.
Saints - Kelvin Banks, Jr. B. Again, not a bad pick and it helps the Saints depleting O-Line; but not a great pick either.
Bears - Colston Loveland. D. This was not even a good pick, it was subpar.
49ers - Mykel Williams. B. Thought Jalon Walker would have been the better pick here.
Cowboys - Tyler Booker. D With Tyler Warren, Jalon Walker, Grey Zabel, some WRs and CBs still on the board, this was the second worst pick of the draft.
Dolphins - Kenneth Grant. A. Some had Grant over Mason Graham, extreme value pick here.
Colts - Tyler Warren. A. Again, he should have been taken when the Bears picked.
Falcons - Jalon Walker. A. Good pick for a team that really need to boost their trenches, and this is a great start for them.
Cardinals - Walter Nolen. C. Has some good upside, but there are a ton of questions about his work ethic.
Bengals - Shemur Stewart. C. I thought they could have bolstered their O-Line here with Grey Zabel, Josh Connerly, or Josh Simmons. They whiffed.
Seahawks - Grey Zabel. A. Great pick for this position. Thought he would have been gone earlier.
Bucs - Emeka Egbuka. C. Wow, they are loaded at WR and yet they chose another WR. Defense was a greater need, especially at LB.
Doncos - Jahdae Barron. F. This is the worst draft pick. Barron had a 3rd Round Grade because of his size even though he won the Jim Thorpe Award and was a Finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Award (nation's top defender).
Steelers - Derrick Hampton. B. They are getting hammered for not selecting Sanders here; but Hampton is a solid pick.
Chargers - Omarion Hampton. A. This is a really good pick for the Chargers.
Packers - Matthew Golden. A. Good pick fills a need for Jordan Love.
Vikings - Donovan Jackson. B. Ok pick here, not much to say about it.
Giants - Jaxson Dart. C. I think Dart is overrated. I'm surprised they traded back into the first round to select him.
Falcons - James Pearce Jr. C. I'm surprised they traded back into the first round here for him. Not a first round talent.
Ravens - Malaki Starks. A This was a great pick for the Ravens, I was hoping he would fall to the second round, and the Raiders take him.
Lions - Tyleik Williams. D. Again, a subpar reach at DT here.
Redskins - Josh Connerly. A. Good pick, thought he'd been picked earlier.
Bills - Maxwell Hairston. B. Not a large CB, especially with Will Johnson, Shavon Revel, and Troy Amos on the board. Yes, he's talented, but was projected late 2nd early 3rd.
Eagles - Jihaad Campbell. A. Scary pick here. Eagles have a talented Defense, and it just got better.
Chiefs - Josh Simmons. A. Great need pick up
Epic post!
ReplyDeleteI don't want to point a finger at the roster, core or other, when the coaching was so bad last year. Luke Getsy was an epic fail by Antonio Pierce, which easily cost Pierce his job (not that Pierce needed help). Getsy was terrible in Chicago, and Pierce thought he'd do better with the Raiders? One of the worst coaching hires in the Raiders history... and that's saying a lot.
ReplyDeleteAlso, allowing Josh Jacobs to walk was a huge mistake. Jacobs was affordable to the Raiders, but they misjudged White as Jacobs' replacement in another epic fail.
Raiders eventually sat James and shuffled the line around a little, and things got better. IMO, the Raiders have a O-line core with perhaps a little more help.
Also, we were without Wilkins all season, and we lost Bennett and others to injuries as well.
RB was a big need, and the Raiders found one in a big way. If they stay the course and draft best available in Rd 2, assuming that's either a WR or CB, this draft can really make sense.
But Sanders is a distraction. If they draft him, they better be right!
With Sanders still on the board, the Raiders traded back!
ReplyDeleteWow! So they don't want Sanders, but why not take a WR/CB now?!
Traded back again. Stockpiling picks. Hope they are smart enough to use them wisely.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a Sanders in the first round guy for sure, but maybe they should've taken a flyer on him deep in the third?
ReplyDeleteBob Pirate
ReplyDeleteHey! Since when did they dominate at DB that they can keep trading down and missing on highly rated DBs?
Bob Pirate
ReplyDeleteThey need two starting corners and we need a DT! Carroll's is at the card table trading sports star cards, property, contracts and money trying to come out with big profits over the competition later in the game but he's missing on possible big wins of gold and gems for later w ins
Browns might not think they need a QB, but they do. Watson was not the answer last year, and then they doubled down on him. Funny, the Browns don't have a pick before Raiders in Rd 4. But the Giants do, and somebody could easily trade up.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, Will Howard is still available. Raiders could certainly use a developmental QB. Does Chip Kelly think that little of his college QB who just won a national title?
But the Raiders are clearly ALL-IN with Geno Smith, and they look like they've been methodical in their drafting approach to help Smith do his job, by taking Jeanty, then trading back to stockpile picks which they used on a big WR, two O-linemen (and a fast CB).
So what's next? Good pass rushers have flown off the board. But the Raiders still need depth at DT, and there could be a couple sleepers out there. Also, a safety, and maybe another WR/CB.
On a side note, the Rams made a smart trade, getting the Falcons 1st rd pick next year. Rams have two 1st rd picks next year and they'll be looking for Stafford's eventual replacement. They will have the draft capital needed to trade for the 1st pick (probably cost three 1st rd picks) to draft Arch Manning. Maybe the Raiders see next year as better opportunity for their own QB of the future.
Yet, if Sanders is still there for the Raiders pick in the 4th (which will be the Raiders 6th pick in the draft), how can they pass on him, again? Right? What am I missing? Did Deon Sanders threaten to prank call the facility every day if they draft his son?
Seems like whoever drafts Sanders now will be getting perhaps the biggest bargain of the 2025 draft. Again, what am I missing here?
Sanders is said to have a businesslike approach when the pressure is on. That's what you want from your QB. Cold as ice, tough as nails.
I guess, we'll see.
Raiders had zero interest in drafting Sanders in any round of the draft. In fact, it looks like they may forego drafting a QB entirely.
ReplyDeleteWho saw that coming?
It bodes well for AOC, who is the clear #2.
Pirate Bob - so many holes to fill, so few picks (though we've had a lot). NY, I think they should have taken a flyer on Sanders, he's boxed in as a 4th/5th round pick, if he's trouble then you can cut him, but it's possible he's learned something and could be a way better QB than O'Connell
ReplyDeleteRaiders drafted QB Cam Miller (ND) with their last pick. Miller is undersized and was torched in his scouting report.
ReplyDeleteWhy bother?!
Shouldn't they continue to select players that make sense? They still have to put together a list of undrafted free agents. Did they lose track and decide to waste their last pick in the draft on a bad QB?
I have some reservations about this draft. Jeanty seemed smart but trading back twice before making another pick left better players for other teams to choose draft. Stockpiling picks isn't always a smart move. With good scouting, they should have been move aggressive with what they had.
Just my opinion.
NY, I thought Cam Miller was interesting too, especially with Quinn Ewers on the board. Both are pretty much the same prospect.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I grade them an A+. 9 of their 12 picks can start this year. Jeanty, Bech, Porter, Rogers, Grant, Thornton Jr, Pegues, Hemingway, and Lindenberg
Geez, that's very generous, IMO, Nate. At the very least, it doesn't say much for the Raiders roster prior to the draft.
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about it, the more ridiculous I think it was that the Raiders didn't draft Sanders with a late 4th round pick (they had three picks in the 4th round), nor did they draft Will Howard with a 6th round pick.
Raiders drafted two no-name QBs in the 6th round when they had Will Howard right there for the taking. Will Howard just won the college championship with Chip Kelly as his coach. Why doesn't drafting Howard in the 6th round qualify as a no-brainer?
Very disappointing.
I have no idea how well they drafted. Aside from Jeanty, their picks aren't exactly household names. IMO, they will be lucky to get 2-3 immediate starters from this group. My guess, Jeanty and Bech. Porter is not a starter, at least not yet, but he can help on ST. The only way Grant or Thornton start is if Miller holds out longer.
The Raiders went for quantity over quality, and that may hurt them. Perhaps they lack scouting to have enough confidence to make good choices with high draft picks they had.
The QB spree in the 6th looks like a bad joke. I think we just got punked, but what do I know.
This from Vic Tafur
ReplyDelete"The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Miller was the runner-up to the Walter Payton Award, for the top offensive player in FCS. Miller can throw on the run (3,251 yards and 33 touchdowns, with four interceptions) and find the endzone when he scrambles (12 touchdowns)."
He also ran a 4.3 40 and has a 41 inch vertical jump
Vinnie B wrote:
"QB Cam Miller threw for 9,721 yards and 81 TD's in college.
But this stands out to me: He also ran for 2,277 yards and 48 touchdowns."
A few others are reporting that Cam Miller was Tom Brady's pick. They are also signing undrafted players like CB Mello Dotson of Kansas. Good signing right there
ReplyDeleteHey Brady! Be a student first and GM in a year or two
ReplyDeleteBob Pirate
IDK, Nate. I'm on the outside looking in, so I'll preface by saying, I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. My initial reaction is more global than it is informed. With that said, there's a certain amount of common sense that comes to play, IMO.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, clearly, the Raiders went for quantity over quality. You can say they got both, but did they? They forewent a high second round pick (practically a 1st rounder) to drop back 21 slots in the second round. There were several WRs, DTs, and others selected ahead of the Raiders pick. We won't know until we know, but is the Raiders scouting suddenly that good that they can skip practically an entire round and still find gold with Bech? Maybe!
They were channeling Al Davis. WRs/DBs were big, strong and fast. Maybe that's good, but there was a clear pattern in those selections.
They waited until fairly late in the draft to select a DT, then took two back-to-back. We saw that play out two years in a row with McDaniels. All four of his late DT picks were busts. They had opportunity as late as the 4th round to pick a consensus DT, Joshua Farmer... who the Patriots grabbed.
As for the QB spree in the 6th, Cam Miller was the second QB picked. Apparently, the Raiders whiffed on Mellott and decided they'd let Brady make a token pick?
Again, I don't know. That much I do know. However, from the outside looking in, it seemed to me the Raiders made one true consensus best pick with Jeanty, then winged the rest of the draft, beginning with avoiding what should have been a high second round pick.
Then, late in the draft, it looks like they just gave up, taking 2 QBs, right after passing on the National Championship winning QB and a protégé of their OC. I respect their choice to NOT pick a QB, but to pass on Howard in the 6th round then immediately draft two other QBs... that had disappointment written all over it. I can only imagine the high-fives and fist bumps after those picks being reminiscent of Mark Davis celebrating Raiders late season victories that pushed them out of getting the top pick in the draft. Hollow!
I hope my global view is wrong. We'll see.
I've taken some time to read grades and scouting. My reaction is pretty much the same. I see lots of hype, but that's pretty standard for past drafts as well.
ReplyDeleteJeanty is a slam dunk. Raiders improved at RB.
Bech is likely to have an immediate impact on a thin WR corp. Thorton Jr. is interesting because of his size and speed.
The OL and DL picks are depth, which is fine but other options were available. None are likely to break the starting lineup.
Porter can be a standout ST player due to his quickness and speed (4.3 guy).
Cam Miller looks interesting, but he's not going to bump AOC, who is quietly now a vet backup QB with starter experience. Mellott was a wasted pick.
Nothing groundbreaking! Jeanty and Bech have the most to offer right away.
Bob Raider
ReplyDeleteRumor is they will use 3-4 defense. Maybe they should've drafted more LBs. Some nice DLs but sometimes they seem like it's an obsession to trade high picks away. Who picked the QBs? Might kick butt later in their careers but seems they think they can find good players in later rounds but give away high picks in the top of the rounds.
Could be the Raiders might try Cam Miller as a running back, with his break away speed and all. And if he can catch ball out of the back field, he and Jeanty would make a great 3rd down combo. Just a maybe thought.
ReplyDeleteMellot is going to be a WR, much like what the Pats did with Edelman (who was a QB coming out of college).
ReplyDeleteMiller will compete for a QB spot. I think if he learns to thread the needle, he will win out. Let's do some comparison:
Geno Smith coming out of West Virginia, drafted in the 2nd Round by the Jets:
67.4-Completion %, 11,662 Yards, 98 TDs, 21 INTs, 342 Rushing Yards, 4 Rushing TDs.
Cam Miller:
69.2-Completion %, 9720 Yards, 81 TDs, 19 INTs, 2277 Rushing Yards, 48 Rushing TDs.
Cannot say that Cam Miller is going to be nothing, and that it was a wasted pick. Chip Kelly is a QB whisperer too, look what he did for Will Howard who transferred to Ohio St from Kansas St.
The knock being reported on Shedeur is two-fold. #1 - He wasn't taking his interviews with teams seriously. His favorite answer was "Watch the film" even though he was being asked specific questions about what was seen on his film.
#2 - He wasn't showing passion for the game. He was content with his talent and giving a vibe that he didn't need to put in grinding work to improve. Attitude over talent is a big thing. Some scouts were saying that he wasn't interested in discussing film, reading defense/WR routes, talking about adjustments and improvements to his game. He gave off a persona that he didn't need to improve. He also told teams if they weren't willing to change their team franchise and culture, not to draft him.
Raiders made some excellent picks, don't believe me, go read what others are saying about their draft, and how they graded the Raiders. In my opinion, they had the 2nd best draft this year; the first? IMO, only the Baltimore Ravens had a better draft.
My Top 5 teams who had the best Draft:
ReplyDelete1. Baltimore Ravens: Ravens had some great picks from Starks, Emery Jones, Teddye Buchanon, Aeneas Peebles (actually stole them from the Raiders), LaJohnty Wester, and Garrett Dellinger. The Ravens just became potential AFC Champs if these drafted rookies produce, and nothing suggests that they won't.
2. Las Vegas Raiders: I've talked enough about their draft. This draft is better than the 2014 draft, and may turn out to be the best draft in their history (which I think '82 is their best draft, for what its worth).
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: Quietly, the Steelers got overlooked and nasty this draft. Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson, Jack Sawyer, Yahya Black, and Will Howard (who I think is the most underrated QB in the draft). These guys are going to be brawlers again.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Like the Steelers, the Eagles just got nastier. Jihaad Campbell with their first pick, nasty. Ty Robinson with their third pick, Drew Kendall will start at Center for them over Cam Jurgens, and Mac Williams will be grinding probably at the Nickel slot for them.
5. Houston Texans: They grabbed some help for Stroud. Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will be great targets out of Iowa St. Woody Marks coming out of the backfield, or may move to slot WR. They got much needed protection in Aireonte Ersery a Tackle that I really liked; and then the underrated CB from USC Jaylin Smith and the underrated S from Penn St Jaylen Reed.
Nate, not for nothing, but if Chip Kelly did his whisperer thing with Will Howard, why didn't the Raiders draft Will Howard?
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement with Bob Raider (about the draft).
The Raiders stockpiled picks at the beginning of the draft at the expense of not selecting from the best players available early in the 2nd round... foregoing 21 slots before making their pick.
Then it appears they had a complete brain fart at the end of the draft, taking QBs like they were DBs. I'm willing to accept that Cam Miller might be an exceptional athlete worthy of the pick, but Mellott isn't going to make the team as a WR. Who was the last "project player" that stuck for the Raiders? Remember Lynn Bowden? 3rd pick didn't even make the team. (And if the Raiders drafted a DT to hand the ball to in short yardage situations, that's a mistake.)
Did you see the Raiders also signed an undrafted FA QB. They now have six QBs! They only get 90 spots on their initial roster, and no team will carry six QBs...
I read several reviews giving the Raiders high grades for their draft, but I'm not feeling it. They excelled with Jeanty (BPA) and might have found a gem with Bech. They may have found value later in the draft, but IMO everyone else is on the bubble.
But I'm no scout. I just call 'em like I see 'em.
Bob Raider
ReplyDeleteNate
Hey Bob Raider, what's happening? Welcome to the site.
ReplyDeleteGhost, all indications by the beat writers (Hondo, Vic Tafur [who just announced he has been reassigned to cover the 49ers after 15 years covering Raiders], Vinnie B, Your Boy Q, and others) are saying Cam Miller is a QB that Spytek and Carroll really liked, and he will have the opportunity to compete at that position.
NY, I understand that there was not a lot of flash; but the Raiders had an excellent draft. Again, out of the 12 picks, they have 7 to 9 that will be potential starters, and at least 6-7 that will impact the team this year! Rogers and Grant are more than "backups", they are brawlers that have a strong chance of being starters; and are going to be powerhouses with JPJ and Kolton Miller.
Nate, I appreciate your optimism but I'm not sure how you squeeze 7-9 starters from this draft.
ReplyDeleteSafe to assume, the Raiders DL starters are set. They're certainly getting paid to start!
Pretty sure I read that Porter was only briefly a starter in college. He's a good pickup but he's being pegged as a ST and rotational player during his first year in the NFL.
IMO, the O-line is pretty set. Miller, Parham, JPJ, Merridith, Glaze/Munford. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I haven't read any "grounded" articles suggesting any of these guys lose their job to Rogers or Grant, two tackles from the middle of the draft, at least one of which will be converted to guard.
Thorton Jr has some good and bad reviews out there (bad hands issue). He can help stretch a defense, but Geno Smith is not going to be throwing 25+ yards a lot (which is Thorton's claim to college fame). Smith's bread and butter will be short to medium range, just like it was for Rich Gannon. Bech is far more suited for that.
Safe to say five of the six QBs the Raiders currently have will not be starting. Most of them will not make the team (at any position).
Jeanty and Bech are gold! Everyone else is pure speculation, and they will have to beat out experienced vet(s)..., not that it can't happen.
Raiders took the Noah's Ark approach to the draft; (2) WRs, (2) QBs, (2) DL, (2) OL. Their draft was geared toward adding bodies. Maybe that's a smart approach, but it lacks confidence at any one position choice (except RB).
It's a new regime. They are loading the roster, throwing players against a wall to see who sticks. They have no identity right now.
My thinking is, Patrick Graham lost the middle and back side of his defense and instead of loading up on DBs and LBs, the Raiders were loading up on QBs. Project players seldom (never!) work for the Raiders.
It's obviously a numbers game for the Raiders this year. But they clearly made some interesting picks.
There is still Free Agency too, and it wouldn't surprise me if they have something up their sleeves still. I think they can use Thorton for the medium range, slants/posts, etc; and use his big body to get through the middle with his speed. Bad hand issue? More like he had a QB who consistently underthrew him issue. Yes, he can stretch the field; but there are different ways to stretch the field, especially if we make him more like Jerry Rice type player.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Glaze/Munford are sure things at RT. I don't think Meredith is a sure thing at G. I think JPJ, Parham, and Cappa are a pretty good bet they will be starters at Center and Guard, and I think Kolton Miller is set at LT, unless he is injured. Glaze did better at RT than Munford; but both really struggled. Munford more than Glaze, and both dealt with injuries last season too. Caleb Rogers can play anywhere on the line. Saw him play at Tech this last year when I went to visit my daughter, and he is a BEAST! The film on Grant is nasty too, and he is going to bring some competition at RT. Here is a video from two non-Raiders fans before the draft:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWtNYxZ3MWk
After an initial push, the Raiders almost seem disinterested in free agency. Maybe that will change now that the draft is over... or during cutdowns.
ReplyDeletePretty sure Meredith scored high with PFF. He's only a 3rd year player and not well known, but I wouldn't assume he's going to get pushed out of the starting lineup by a converted college tackle. IMO, Meredith might be the best G on the team. I concede RT might still be open, however, both Glaze and Munford have a lot of snaps under their belts and they will be playing with a better QB. Again, I've read many pundits say the O-line will be set by vets on the roster, at least initially.
I don't want to put words in your mouth (I think I know what you mean), but saying Thorton Jr and Jerry Rice "type player" in the same sentence might be a bridge too far, no matter the context. Drops are part of the game, and I'm sure they are not counting bad passes as drops. Nobody's perfect.
IMO, offseason is a time when teams like the Raiders look their best. Yet, how many times have we seen this process mismanaged? I certainly don't want that to happen, but I'm also not buying any more fool's gold.
Did the Raiders get better? Sure, but so did 31 other teams, most likely.
What really impressed me is how the Eagles appeared to improve their defense from the last slot in the draft.
I'm cautiously all-in. It's a big lift for Pete Carroll.
Bob Raider,
ReplyDeleteHey Nate, I'm new here. You must be a regular here! How yaw doin? They didn't say they would make a big splash this year in the draft but are instead loading up on draft picks I like the Beach and Jeanty picks and I see we didn't pick aot of name stars but I think we have more than two guys. S. Carolina DE may be a good player maybe a few others but I'm confused about the QB plans. Are they looking for their future starter in the draft or going with next year's draft?
Bob Raider, welcome to Raider Take! Yes, I'm a regular here, and have been since the early 2000's. I've been a Raiders fan since 1980 (I was 6), and started watching baseball, football, and basketball that year. One of the things we like to know, is how you became a Raiders fan? I was born into it, as my dad was a Raiders dude. I passed that on to my son as well.
ReplyDeleteI think every team is going to try and line up to draft Arch Manning (if he doesn't stay a 4th year). Outside of that, not much in the QB department; so I think they are sticking to their guns with Geno Smith and Company. I encourage you to you tube some of the other draft picks. Yes, maybe not "well known" players, but they will be beasts in the League. Maxx Crosby was not a well known name coming into the draft (drafted in the 4th), and has made a name for himself. There are so many HoFers drafted in late rounds:
Tom Brady (6th), Cliff Branch (4th), John Stallworth (4th), Cris Carter (4th), Andre Reed (4th), Dick Lebeau (5th), Kevin Greene (5th), Zach Thomas (5th), Terrell Davis (6th), Bo Jackson (7th), Shannon Sharpe (7th), Richard Dent (8th), Johnny Unitas (9th Round), Roger Staubach (10th), George Blanda (12th), Deacon Jones (14th), Bart Starr (17th), Roosevelt Brown (27th).
Let's not forget those who were never drafted:
Jim Otto, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Willie Brown, Drew Pearson, Warren Moon, John Randle, Kurt Warner. So it is not a matter of where you were drafted, or if you were drafted; it's what you do with it!
NY, scouts that I know are saying Thornton's ceiling has potential to be comparable to Randy Moss, so using him like the 9ers did Jerry Rice on deep posts and slants in the middle, is not too crazy of a concept.
Nate, in Raiders' tradition (channeling Al Davis), Thorton was selected for his measurables, tall and fast. He only had like 65 catches his entire college career, which Bech matched last year. Tre Tucker had 66 catches last year, and it would likely be Tucker's role that Thorton would look to displace.
ReplyDeleteLove your optimism but I'm gonna wait and see if he can make the team. I expect he will, but he's unlikely to make a big impact coming off 60-something career receptions over four years.
He's another developmental project for the Raiders. Picking players like Thorton is in their DNA, no matter how many times it fails.
You can list all those great players selected in middle and late rounds, but that's lightning in a bottle stuff. You forgot Rod Martin (12th round). Also, Bo Jackson was a two-sport athlete. Most of those players are from a foregone era.
I'm not denying the Raiders received good grades for their draft. I'm just scratching my head wondering why.
For what it's worth, and it's worth repeating, the AFC West is loaded with the best coaches and some of the best QBs in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, hiring Pete Carroll was certainly a positive for the Raiders, but Carroll has his work cut out for him. Did anyone else notice the Raiders allowed several key veterans on their defense to walk in favor of cheaper replacements? Spillane and Moehrig had career years last year.
Every team is looking to improve. The Raiders "improvements" need to be better than other teams to make that happen for themselves.
IMO, drafting Shedeur Sanders late in the 4th round would have been a worthy risk, with zero urgency to get him game reps. Sanders was a top-20 college talent. The Browns had 5 QBs before their owner apparently stepped in and drafted Sanders himself. Seemed like a no-brainer for a QB needy team, even for a team with 5 QBs.
Sanders would have been a developmental player worth drafting. Say what you will about Deon and whatever excuse might be out there for not drafting Shedeur, it's all just noise, IMO.
So when I look at Nate's list of middle and late round picks who became stars in the NFL, IMO, someone like Shedeur Sanders stands out with that potential, far above Thorton Jr.
When the Raiders passed on Sanders I was fooled into believing they didn't want to draft a QB. Okay, I respect that. Then they drafted two QBs.
Personally, I'm very anxious to see how much better Mellott and Miller are than Shedeur Sanders. That might be the true test of how smart the Raiders were in this draft.
NY, for what its worth, Thornton played at Tennessee where he had a QB who constantly under threw his WRs, Thornton included. I think most are giving them good grades, even with developmental players, because the Raiders FINALLY have a coaching staff that will develop them. Carroll has a great history of making stars out of players in middle to late rounds.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I also like Shedeur, so does Maxx Crosby. I wasn't happy we didn't pull his name. For whatever reason, the owners wanted to show him and his dad up. Listen to his interview on Maxx Crosby's podcast "The Rush". Shedeur even talks about his team interviews, and what he says seems to be true with what is being reported, that maybe he didn't take them seriously and answer questions. He just wants people to see his talent. If that is the case, he is wrong. Teams want to see if you have the ability to think under pressure, and how you respond under pressure.
I do think he has Mahomes' like talent; just not sure if it will be seen in Cleveland (where QBs go to die). I'm willing to bet that either:
A) Cleveland won't play him and he will want a trade.
B) They won't pay him what he wants, and he will want a trade.
C) They put him on the Practice Squad to be signed by another team, or
D) He's outright cut.
I think there is still an opportunity for the Raiders to pick him up, they love players with a chip on their shoulder to prove everyone wrong.
NY not sure why a late round flyer on a QB would trouble you, teams have a history of taking QBs and using them in different roles Kordell Stewart, Edelman and Taysom hill to name a couple, heck even Marcus Allen was a top QB in High School and was the 3string Qb for the Raiders.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know how this draft will shake out but this Raiders rebuild looks very similar to what Spytek has done in the past with the Broncos and the Buccaneers. I know the got HOF QBs to play for them in the case of manning he was breaking down physically when they won their SB. BTW Raiders just picked up a local kid Laki Tasi… project since he is young only 21 but a true man child 6.6 348lb he was heavier but has been working it down. Can’t wait for the season!
Hey, Aussie! I'm only questioning the logic. It's more than a flyer on Mellett (who played QB and who the Raiders list as WR). It's dismissing the use of a late round pick on a Top-20 talent in Shedeur Sanders, then drafting two QBs immediately after. That doesn't seem odd? Raiders will look pretty stupid if Sanders does what many believe he can, and it wouldn't have cost the Raiders more than a late 4th rounder to find out.
ReplyDeleteRaiders signed ~12 undrafted free agents after the draft, many of whom play positions that the Raiders needed to stack. Did none of those players warrant consideration in the 6th round? Were we instead drafting guys to make trick plays? I'm not trying to be sarcastic. IDK, maybe the Raiders plan to run the wildcat.
I think they had a decent draft, but I wonder if "decent" is good enough. They could have done better... maybe by simply taking the no-risk option that was right in front of them.
I think we forget too easily that we've watched this play out before, with folks we thought were the "right one" to make the Raiders great, again.
I'm just questioning the logic by a team with so little room for error.
They took the BPA with their top pick. That's what I ask for from the beginning. So, I guess I got my wish.
Nate, I don't think it was a coincidence, or a matter of underthrows (although, that's an interesting concept). The Raiders were clearly focusing on player profile, e.g., size and speed, perhaps more than anything else. They went through Raiders HQ and found Al's playbook... for better or worse.
ReplyDeleteIf they get their wish, Raiders will be taller and faster than other teams. Not for nothing, but we've tried that.
Now, they're signing heavy... with the rugby player. No complaints. That's a worthwhile signing.
But at least we got something done with the offense! No more depending on the passing game to win games! But I thought we had a inside edge finding a QB in the draft? Maybe Brady got it right with Mallet and Miller and one of them may be a running accurate QB but I was a little confused and shocked we didn't pick a name QB. And is there a place for O'Connell? IDK..we need defense a d so e help on the defense
ReplyDeleteIMO, Thorton shouldn't be compared by media to Rice or Moss, or any top WR. Justin Jefferson had 111 catches as a junior (final year) at college. That's what a top WR does.
ReplyDeleteIMO, and his stats back me up, Thorton is a project player who brings size and speed combination to the Raiders. He'll be fighting for a roster spot and could easily find himself on the practice squad.
Bech was the Raiders WR pick, and even he is not on top level. His strength might be slot WR, which could leave the Raiders without a second wideout. Perhaps Tre Tucker...?
The Raiders have often taken flyers on project players, but this seemed to be a flyer heavy draft (just not for a Top-2 QB).
-tall/fast WR with a dearth of college production.
-OT to be converted to G
-DT who carries the football on short yardage.
-QB who played QB last year in college but is to be converted to WR
-2nd QB in back-to-back picks
-tweener safety who's listed as a LB.
Sure, that's oversimplified. But all these guys were scouted and drafted. It will be interesting to see who sticks.
I'm reading lots of writers talking up Thorton Jr. One article says he will be in the mix for starting role. Another said other teams were trying to trade up for him before the Raiders selected him in the 4th.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope he lights up the NFL in a Raiders uniform.
With that said, 26 catches last year and +/- 65 catches his entire four years in college is speculation drafting. But It's sounding more and more like a good risk for the Raiders to have taken.
Sorry all that I have been away, busy season in my life with High School baseball playoffs; but unfortunately for my son, that has come to an end this last week. He faced off against Halletsville, which is ranked #6 in 3A schools in Texas, and #10 overall in the state, in a best of 3 series. My son pitched game 1 and held them to 2 runs (1 earned), 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk in his 4th complete game (7 innings in High School); but we came up short 2-1. We had a lot of college scouts at that game, mostly for Halletsville team, but they got the shock of their life with my son, and many has reached out to him. Super proud, and I'm always glad when people underestimate him.
ReplyDeleteNY, as excited as I am about our offseason and draft, the bottom line is I am still in the mode of "Just Prove It, Baby!" I think we have seen it for the last 20-25 years with all the offseason hype, only to fall way short of hype and expectations during the season. Again, it doesn't take away from me that we had an awesome draft. Nor does it take away that they have a lot to do. If the season ended at the draft, we'd be champions. The other amazing thing that Pete Carroll and John Spytek are doing, is continually building the front office, in a HUGE way. The team will only thrive as the organization and front office thrives; and they are bringing in guys who believe in what the organization is trying to do.
But, in the end, they still have to Just Prove It, Baby!
Clearly, dreams are made during the offseason.
ReplyDeleteI was mistaken excited last off-season following a great run to end the 2023 season, then brought back to earth by the choice of Luke Getsy to run the Raiders' offense (a stupid decision which cost Pierce his job).
Even in the face of proven coaching (remember, Pierce's staff was stacked with former HCs), the Raiders had no answers. So, excuse my cynicism. To wit, no offense to the current regime, but we've seen this play out before. It's incredibly familiar. We even had a Super Bowl winning coach take over the team before. We've had impressive drafts, signed top free agents. It's all been done.
The unfortunate truth is that the Raiders are caught in a division which having a Championship winning HC, an all-star QB and even a solid defense are par for the course. So, unfortunately, I see the Pete Carroll-led Raiders with Geno Smith at QB (and significant turnover on defense) as the underdogs, by a wide margin.
Yes, we shall see!
Cowboys just traded for WR Pickens from the Steelers, but it looks like it cost them a lot of draft capital.
ReplyDelete32 teams vying for coaches and players from the same pool of college and pro talent. Northing comes easy in the NFL. The 2025 Raiders are proof.
HC: The Raiders wanted Ben Johnson and got Pete Carroll.
QB: The Raiders wanted Matthew Stafford and got Geno Smith.
They bargain-shopped key positions in the middle and back of their defense, losing Spillane and Moehrig at the top of their games.
They drafted Jeanty, but he was reported to be 2nd or 3rd on their board. Raiders apparently wanted Carter, which was never going to happen. But it demonstrates compromise which is an integral part of the NFL.
The one choice they had this year which they did not need to compromise they elected to avoid like a bad cold. The Raiders passed on Shedeur Sanders 7 times in the draft. That's no accident, that's a blatant act of avoidance.
It seems shortsighted for a guy with his pedigree and determination to be good at his craft. But now Tom Brady is telling media he was not involved in the process of evaluating Sanders.
So, we're to believe Brady did a full evaluation on Cam Miller, who the Raiders drafted in the 6th on Brady's recommendation, but he never evaluated Sanders?
Really?!
I'm just seeing this... pic of the day!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.raiders.com/news/ashton-jeanty-journey-in-the-nfl-marcus-allen-jim-plunkett-fred-biletnikoff-raiders-hall-of-famers
Come on, NY. Most everything you posted is categorically false.
ReplyDeleteThe Raiders requested an interview with Ben Johnson, but Ben Johnson and his agent both have said they were never interested in the Raiders job; but didn't want to skip any options. The Raiders have never said Ben Johnson was their guy, but local media blew that up when Ben agreed to a sit down with Tom Brady. One article can be found here:
https://www.chicitysports.com/bears-ben-johnson-las-vegas-raiders-interview
The bottom line, the Raiders interviewed a lot of people, and continue to do so, as they look to build a top-notch football organization. I'd rather have Pete Carroll than Ben Johnson, who never wanted to be here (his words, not mine).
The Raiders, Steelers, Browns, and the Giants were rumored teams looking to trade for Matthew Stafford. Sport's Illustrated says the Raiders and Giants were both willing to extend him for 2 years, $100+ million contract; and he turned it down to stay with the Rams. But if he was still under contract, how could the Raiders and Giants offer him a contract without a trade in place? I don't buy the report, I think these teams were interested in a trade, but the Rams were not willing to depart with Stafford, and why would they?
So to say we missed out on him is not really a fair assessment, based on a "rumored" report by Sport's Illustrated.
Brady and Shedeur Sanders are close. Brady has helped mentor Shedeur and the two are close. I think there are several issues with the fact that he never evaluated him. Yes, he did. But there are underlying issues of his interview with the team that are being rumbled about that include how he was unwilling to answer questions, his dad was already demanding big $$, Shedeur giving the impression he wasn't going to put in the work, etc. But Shedeur to the Raiders still may happen, as now there are rumblings the Browns may cut him before Training Camp and Preseason, and the Raiders can pick him up as a free agent. Not worried about why teams skipped over him, there is a reason. Oh, by the way, Maxx Crosby is also a huge fan of Shedeur, go check out his podcast "The Rush". What we know, is something happened with Shedeur that didn't set well with the football operation guys, and they didn't draft him; but they all have a relationship with him and Deion, and don't want to throw him under the bus, they are keeping it in house where it belongs. Unlike what Tom Telesco seemingly did to Jacobs (listen to Will Compton's podcast "Bussin' with the boys"). Dude had a reporter on the phone trying to record his conversation with Jacobs, and Crosby witnessed it. People assume it was McDaniels and Zeigler, which it could have been, but he was trying to sign his 5th year option when Telesco took over.
Spytek came out and said Jeanty was their guy, and if Jeanty was there, they were taking him, but didn't think he'd get past Jacksonville, and when they traded up, they thought he was gone. Pete Carroll loves big backs (Marshawn, Reggie Bush, LenDale White), and was impressed by Jeanty. Excited to see what he does in Chip Kelly's offense.
Bob Raider
ReplyDeleteRaider Nates looking at the story positively and in line with stories and facts while New York is asking questions about the '25 season with some problems and questions with the off program and also has stories with some facts like Nate and they both have good facts. Nate- Raiders whiffed a lot but also couldn't get all the trades they wanted,. NY- Raiders are.doung good making a better offense but then made heads watching moves not trading for more defensive help or being greedyet and getting a big name WR and not drafting more defensive help
Nate, we can agree on the front end of your post. I can see the Ben Johnson story got blown up. You say they interviewed a lot of people? Remind me who else the Raiders interviewed for the HC position. We can take Ben Johnson off that "long" list.
ReplyDeleteThat's been my biggest criticism of Mark Davis since he took over, he doesn't know what due diligence is.
He fixated on Jack Del Rio (didn't he fly to Denver to court him?), then man-crushed on Jon Gruden (signing him to an unprecedented 10-year $100M deal). He was smitten with Josh McDaniels and doubled down with ex-Patriot Dave Ziegler as GM. In his transition from Mc-Ziegler, Davis had an opportunity to interview Jim Harbaugh. I haven't read a single article that suggests Davis even had a phone conversation with Harbaugh (maybe he did). There were very few, if any, other "viable" candidates given formal interviews during this entire period of multiple transitions.
Enter Pete Carroll. Okay, Carroll has chops, for sure. But remind me who else (under age 74 worthy of being Raiders HC) was interviewed?
Mark Davis shoots from the hip, and he's not a very good shot.
Pete Carroll was a tremendous coach at one of the best recruiting schools in the country. He coached the Seahawks (with Russell Wilson in his prime) to a SB win. But he stalled a bit in Seattle (with Smith at QB) and retired as HC.
IMO, Carroll has brought energy and life to the Raiders org. during the off-season (when we all get to dream of better days ahead). And maybe Geno Smith has matured as a QB (ala Rich Gannon), but there's no escaping the Raiders circumstances. They are stuck in a division which they are decidedly the underdog and they currently have no identity.
I don't think that's just my opinion. I'd love to be the eternal optimist that many fans are, and maybe the law of averages will someday catch up to the Raiders, but they're still the Raiders... an organization stuck in neutral (if I'm being polite), or an org which can't escape the dysfunction of ownership. Mark Davis has taken on his father's M.O., firing regimes as fast as he hires them.
Hopefully, Pete Carroll will last his contract term and steer us from oblivion.
WRT Shedeur Sanders, lots of speculation out there. It's all a guess. The facts are simple. The Raiders passed on him 7 times in the 2025 draft. Only time will tell if that was smart. Right now, it seems a bit shortsighted not to take a flyer on the guy with their 7th pick... who some experts thought was a Top-2 QB in the draft.
ReplyDeleteIDK, seems like it takes too much guesswork and gyration to make sense of that.
Raiders have already signed Jeanty... and they are paying him the 6th largest RB contract and 10th highest annual average in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteHuh? What happened to rookie salary structure? Looks like it got a big increase for 2025. But it's great for the Raiders, who get a new life at RB position post-Jacobs, for considerably less money.
And what's up with Josh Jacobs trash talking the Raiders. He's become toxic. He made his own decision and should just keep his mouth shut, IMO.
I guess to answer my own question, Jeanty got #6 pick money, which happens to be very high for a RB. #6 picks more often go to Edge, CB, QB, etc., which inherently make higher salary than RBs. It's still notably cheaper than Jacobs, and without the noise of Jacobs constantly complaining.
ReplyDeleteDerek Carr Retired! Walked away from $30M
ReplyDeleteThe guy was never afforded a defense. That's why he's among league leaders in come from behind wins. But too often he didn't get the chance because his defenses failed him.
I'm sure he'll be comfortable! Maybe he'll become an announcer and make that $30M back.
Bob Raider
ReplyDeleteWe may be underdogs but at least we have a veteran crew running the team. We passed on big name players and traded down in draft but let's see if it was a good plan. On the other hand NY we got offense spark a and found a QB to work in but we look like a young team with a ways long ways to go to be a playoff team Brady picked a QB but it wasn't the shocking big pick we thought we'd see and the picks aren't unknowns that get you excited but unknowns that are well...nice s d good oicks. Both Nate and NY have good points and some questions.Dallas taking big chances and making big moves..suddenly, Jones wants to go to the playoffs. And Sanders they said may be let go by the Browns? I don't think so.
Hi NY,
ReplyDeleteHere are the potential HC who Vic Tafur reported on
the Raiders interviewed Carroll, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and former Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera in person. Saleh and Rivera are diverse, so Las Vegas has satisfied the Rooney Rule and is free to hire a head coach.
There are three other candidates who the Raiders have interviewed virtually: Glenn, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
So not so much just shooting from the hip, and the fact he hired a consultant firm to assist was a big change for Mark.
Aussie Raider
Thanks, Aussie Raider. I had forgotten the list. What I remember is the Raiders had the earliest opportunity to start the process and were quickly surpassed by other teams, like the Jets, who interviewed far more candidates.
ReplyDeleteSure, other teams may not enjoy success with their HC choices, but there has to be a process of learning about candidates and selecting the best... from the best (something the Raiders have provably fallen short too many times).
Inasmuch as due diligence had some life in this recent cycle, it seemed completely void in previous cycles, as I mentioned, as far back as Jack Del Rio.
Pete Carroll is legit. I'm not disappointed to have him, but the Raiders may quickly be without a contingency plan, again. Carroll has 2-3 years to change the Raiders from being perennial losers to perennial contenders. Is that even doable in such a short window? I guess that notion needed to be evaluated too as part of the hiring process.
Meanwhile, Mark Davis has paid some big HC contracts, something Al Davis would never have done. Yet here we are.
Go Pete Carroll... Go Raiders!
Derek Carr retired, after playing all of last season with a shoulder injury, and now can't seem to get right; and then on top of that, his wife had a miscarriage. It also seems like Kellen Moore was about to give him the Josh McDaniel's treatment too, take away his play calling ability and show him the door.
ReplyDeleteDC went to several doctors, and they all said the same thing, surgery and you will miss 6 months (the entire season). So he retired, and gave the Saints money back so they could find a replacement. He did what no other team would do for him, the right thing. Classy dude! I wonder how much different things would be if he didn't snap his leg in 2016.
Say what you want about DC, I know a lot of Raider "fans" do not like him, he gave 100% every time on the field, and kept us in a position to win. I think we all said it here on this site when Josh showed him the door, that Josh put the franchise back 5 years without a solid QB to replace DC. Not sure Smith is the guy, but I guess we will find out. Derek, I hope you learn about this site and come conversate with us; best wishes in retirement.
Carr is the Raiders all-time leading passer.
ReplyDeleteYes sir, NY. I think he will go down as one of the top 4 in Raiders' history, behind Stabler, Gannon, Plunkett. His overall record with the Raiders was 63-79, 0-1 in the Playoffs, and 77-92 career record. I know Raiders' fans who are bitter with him, as if it were his fault he had 6 different Head Coaches with the Raiders in 9 years, and 4 different Coordinators. He made everyone around him better, and it takes a team to win. Sometimes the team effort was there, and sometimes it crumbled.
ReplyDeleteOne thing for sure, with DC we knew he always put us in a position to win. Yes, something changed after he snapped his stick in 2016; but he still came out and gave it his all; even when McDummy gave up on him. I still believe they would have won the Super Bowl in 2016.
We can all point to mistakes he made, but overall, the mistakes of the organization to give him stability are what prevented him from showing us his complete potential. At the end of the day, whatever failure we put on Derek rests solely on Mark Davis and his merry-go-round coaching staff for not building around him and Khalil Mack.
Bob Raider
ReplyDeleteShout out to Derrick Carr!- you were a gift. soldier and a Raider!- Thanks for you work!
Bob Raider
ReplyDeleteThe Raiders may be a running team with Jeanty and Mortart and they'll use a zone blocking scheme. They ell have a short, middle field passing game trying to hide Meyers and hitting Bowers and Meyer in middle and slant passes. It will be fun but the OL isn't ready and they can't keep Smith in the pocket ll the time so we will not be a playoff offense. But the defense won't be able to get us into the playoffs and will help make us look better but not win a lot. We didn't choose to address the d s and didn't pick a star KN.
Nate, I don't think fans were bitter with Carr. Only that it might have been time to move on after so many years. Unfortunately, it was handled unprofessionally. And, in hindsight, the wrong person was shown the door. I'd rather have kept Carr and booted McDaniels.
ReplyDeleteI think S. Carolina DL may surprise. OLs need work and we needed a star CB this guy is a nice pick but not a starter. If we found a steal with Tennessee Thornton it would be a help but I see a lot of picks with the size speed talents then, to put in the same talk with Randy Moss big talk but too much to take I and take seriously.
ReplyDeleteIMO, lots of speculation investing in this year's draft. Maybe too much. But who knows. In just a matter of months, we get to see how good the new regime is at this. Even long-term prospects will likely reveal themselves as solid (or bust) choices.
ReplyDeletePlenty of previous Raiders' regimes waived 3rd rounders before the final 53-man roster. So the bar is already very low.
Draft wasn't bad, it just wasn't what you're putting your all your chips to bet on. It was or looked like a rebuilding-kind of draft-, It wasn't about picking the big name players but their targets for their program.
ReplyDeleteBob Raider
ReplyDeleteNo, it was a good draft it just that we want to see more D-1A picks with higher rankings and a little Cheesefs and Eagles' style if picking and get steaks in the draft. Defense had .ire stars but they went for ofcense
This has potential to be a very cool film, because we know Al had a storied career and life. Can't wait!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/first-look-emerges-of-nicholas-cage-as-john-madden-and-chrisian-bale-as-al-davis
Mad bird Eagles fan
ReplyDeletePrivate Equity Firms a 'fake news' 'fake friend'. They are a problem not a friend tilo or sports. They aren't buying stake in league just for profit and political tool and glamour-, but to make it a bank for big companies and tax shelter. Go to YouTube and learn the truth.
Ravens signed DT John Jenkins.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Raiders didn't make a mistake by letting Jenkins go. Jenkins was the Raiders run stuffer, starting every game for the last two years. He's the big guy in the middle who sheds blocks and makes plays. Now Jenkins will start on the Ravens defense. That's remarkable, and potentially a big mistake by the Raiders. Unless someone can step up and fill that role, the Raiders just got weaker on DL.
It's interesting to note that the Raiders retained Patrick Graham to run the defense but, for some reason, kicked many of his starters to the curb. Spillane, Moehrig, Jones, Jenkins, Epps and Chaisson (elevated to starter last year) are all gone.
Those guys are all pros (some at the top of their game), but none were retained. Which begs the question, why would the Raiders keep Patrick Graham? They jettisoned half his defense. And many of their replacements were cheaper versions.