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 have Maxx Crosby to keep Sanders in line. I think it was a mistake not to draft him. They had like 6-7 chances by the time they were at the bottom of the 4th round. They skipped on Will Howard in the 6th round.
ReplyDeleteIs Geno Smith really that good, and impervious to injury?
What are they thinking?!
I'm guessing they loaded up at DTs because Wilkins had to have another surgery. Not sure when he's coming back. That sucks!
The top end of the draft was offense heavy. They went for size, strength and speed, ala Al Davis, they will look good getting off the bus.
Here's a separate observation, the Eagles added to their already amazing defense. They added another pass rush specialist and I think they got a high-ranked DT. They will be impossible to beat.
Browns, who took Sanders, now have 5 QBs, including two they drafted. They've obviously wasted money and draft capital in the process. Stupid! In their defense, Sanders was a bargain.
Raiders 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.