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[Las Vegas Raiders]

Can you guess this Raiders defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Raiders player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Raiders fans! We’re back for another day of the Silver & Black Pride in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in the Google Form.

Today’s Silver & Black Pride in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Friday, March 28, 2025
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Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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Silver and Black Pride in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Raiders player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/3/29/24396500/sb-nation-raiders-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders Draft 2025: Will Johnson is a prototypical Pete Carroll cornerback

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson checks off all the boxes Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll seeks from cornerbacks. | Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images

Michigan star checks off all the boxes Las Vegas’ new head coach seeks in defensive backs

Pete Carroll certainly has a type when it comes to cornerbacks for his football team: Big and fluid that have the ball production to match.

Michigan’s Will Johnson fits the mold of a prototypical Carroll cornerback. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, this Wolverine picked off two passes this past season for Michigan — both returned to the house for touchdowns — and has nine career picks (and three pick sixes) over the course of his three-year stint.

Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders certainly can user a takeaway artists like Johnson.

In fact, the only “non-qualifier” in terms of Johnson fitting Carroll’s architype for a cornerback is he has a shorter arm length — 30 1/8 inches. During Carroll’s 14-year run with the Seattle Seahawks, the team traditionally eyed corners with 32 inch arms or higher.

By The Numbers
Will Johnson, Cornerback, Michigan

• 2024: 6 games, 14 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), 3 passes defensed
• Career: 3 seasons (2022-24), 32 games, 68 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns), 10 passes defensed

But in every other aspect, Johnson fits the mold.

#Michigan CB Will Johnson (6-2, 202)

Big, smooth, scheme versatile corner. Closing speed and ball skills to make plays. Excellent hips to sink and redirect. pic.twitter.com/4G7Bj9dXFv

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) June 25, 2024​

How He Fits​

He’s a highly instinctive cornerback who is an ideal fit for the kind of defense Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham runs. While Carroll — a defensive-minded head coach — will undoubtedly sprinkle in his own philosophy to meld with Graham’s — Johnsons’ read and react skillset he displayed with the Wolverines is elite.

Las Vegas landing a cornerback who can determine pre-snap looks and communicate with fellow defenders would help Graham’s defense tremendously and Johnson has the ability to diagnose and spread the word.

Combine the mental aspect with the physical toolbox at Johnson’s disposal, and it’s easy to see why NFL teams covet a prospect of his type. The combination of size, length, football intelligence, and versatility allow teams to deploy Johnson in a variety of schemes and ways. He’s not strictly a man-press or zone cornerback.

The foundation is there for a CB1 who shuts down one side of the field by being a takeaway specialist that quarterback avoid — like former Raider Nnamdi Asomugha.

Thus it’s no surprise to hear the Raiders set up a Top 30 visit for the talented Michigan prospect.

Some may find sixth overall to the Raiders too high, but Las Vegas’ depth at the position isn’t ideal. Then again, some of Carroll’s biggest hits at cornerback were in later rounds (Richard Sherman, fifth, 2011; Bryon Maxwell, sixth, 2011; Jeremy Lane, sixth, 2012; Tariq Woolen, fifth, 2022).

Strengths​

With the ideal frame, Johnson is a very fluid defender for his size. He’s able to backpedal and turn his hips smoothly to mirror receivers and he can bully smaller wideouts.

When tasked with zone coverage, his anticipation and route recognition jump out immediately as he showcases veteran-like football IQ. Johnson shows the ability to dart on throws and make a play on the ball in flight. And when asked to press his assignment, the cornerback uses his length to expertly disrupt timing and being the ultimate nuisance to receiver and quarterback, alike.

Johnson’s ability to use the sideline as an extra defender is a huge plus as that type of intelligence and leverage offer shutdown-corner qualities.

He made some of his biggest collegiate plays on the biggest stage — the College Football Playoffs, namely — showcasing high-pressure situations bother Johnson none.

Johnson was so impactful that Michigan had him travel with the opposition’s top receiving option to limit what the opponent could do.

Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (2) intercepted nine passes during his three-year stint as with the Wolverines. He returned three of those picks for touchdowns.

Weaknesses​

Opportunistic quarterbacks and receivers have taken advantage of Johnson’s high football IQ with double moves. Johnson does have a penchant to peek in the backfield looking for interceptions leaving him vulnerable.

And this doubly hurts as Johnson’s recovery speed doesn’t match his straight-line speed.

To put it in current Raiders terms, Jack Jones is often susceptible to the same thing, for example.

Because Johnsons’ recovery speed doesn’t quite sync with his straight-line speed, the Wolverines cornerback can get too grabby and in the NFL, that’ll lead to penalties or worse — getting torched for a big gain or touchdown.

While Johnson does show a willingness to get down and dirty in run support, he needs to be more physical at the next level against pro-level blockers who are both fast and strong. He’ll also need refinement when it comes to form tackling as Johnson shows up as an arm-tackler too frequently leading to whiffs. (Ironically, he’d fit right in with a Las Vegas team who missed tackles frequently in 2024).

Projection​

Considered a Top 10 talent in the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson is projected to go early to mid first round.

However, teams may be wary due to Johnson only playing six games due to a painful turf toe injury. Johnson also recently suffered a hamstring injury training for Michigan’s Pro Day which sidelined him from working out. He is scheduled to have a private workout on April 14, according to ESPN.

“It was kind of just (something that happened when I) got back from my toe (injury) in early January,” Johnson told the Detroit Free Press, about the injury. “When you’re doing the training we’re doing like this, it’s pretty intense, so just trying to run as fast as I can and hammy wasn’t ready for that yet.”

Taking all that into consideration, Johnson could go anywhere in the first round.

A team to keep an eye on in terms of Johnson: The Los Angeles Chargers.

Not only was Jim Harbaugh Johnson’s coach at Michigan, but the Bolts have a need at cornerback and with the team picking 22nd overall, Los Angeles could either wait for Johnson to potentially fall or trade up to snare the talented corner.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/3/29/24394504/raiders-draft-2025-will-johnson-cornerback

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Silver Minings: Spytek thought QB Geno Smith was too good to pass up’

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Las Vegas Raiders GM John Spytek couldn’t pass up the opportunity to add Geno Smith to become the quarterback for the team.

The Las Vegas Raiders addressed the quarterback hole by trading for Geno Smith. Smith has been the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks the last three seasons, with a 27-22 record and one playoff appearance. All it took was a third-round pick to sway John Schneider into sending the former Pro Bowler to Las Vegas.

As we wait for contract negotiations to finish, John Spytek discussed the chance to land Smith in a podcast interview with Eddie Pascal of Raiders.com. He reviewed the process of trading for the veteran quarterback.

“As we got into it and we evaluated the options in free agency, the other players that maybe were available via trade, ultimately we arrived at a spot where we thought adding Geno made a lot of sense for us. It upgraded the position in our opinion. The compensation from a draft capital standpoint wasn’t so costly. I mean, I love my picks more than anybody and I gotta remind coach Carroll how much I love picks. But listen, we used a late third-round pick to hopefully have our starting quarterback here for years to come. And it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Spytek did seem hesitant to give up draft picks, which is reasonable. After coming off a 4-13 season, rebuilding the roster to a winner is the main objective. However, adding a quarterback of the caliber of Smith eases the process to know that at least the team has a starting quarterback.

The NFL draft is right around the corner, and Spytek will display his chops to build around Smith. They need to hit on their picks after a slow free agency.

In other Raiders links:

• Raiders 7-round mock draft update: Draft Wire has a new 7-round Raiders mock draft in which the Raiders build the backfield in the first round.
• Will Johnson is a prototypical Pete Carroll cornerback: Ray Asupria examines potential first-round pick Will Johnson and his fit with the Raiders.
• Jeffrey Bassa, the physical athlete: Matt Holder breaks down Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa and whether he could be a starting linebacker for the Silver and Black.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/3/30/24396955/raiders-news-spytek-geno-smith

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders Draft 2025: Carson Schwesinger can excel in the middle or outside

UCLA’s Carson Schwesigner can play both middle and outside linebacker positions making him a versatile prospect. The Las Vegas Raiders are in dire need of a three-down linebacker and Schwesigner fits the profile. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

UCLA linebacker has three-down defender skillset who can stymie the run and cover on the back end

With the departures of starters Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo via free agency respectively, the Las Vegas Raiders have needs at both middle and outside linebacker.

Even with the additions of veterans like Elandon Roberts and Devin White, the Silver & Black would do well to take stock of what the 2025 NFL Draft has to offer in the linebacker prospect department.

And there’s a talented prospect that can play in the middle as the green-dot linebacker or outside in UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Moorpark, Calif. native put quite the stamp on his final season as a Bruin in 2024 racking up a collegiate career-high 136 total tackles with four sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

By The Numbers
Carson Schwesinger

• 2024: 12 games, 136 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble
• Career: 3 season (2022-24), 38 games, 163 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble

Luke Kuechly, Matt Milano, Fred Warner, Roquan Smith…

Just a few LB powerhouses that @UCLAFootball’s Carson Schwesinger emulates his game after pic.twitter.com/vGNNofF9Sy

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 19, 2025​

How He Fits​

After losing Spillane and Deablo in free agency, Las Vegas inked veterans Roberts and White to help fill the void. Those two newly-inked Raiders are 30 and 27 years old, respectively, thus, another young talent like Schwesinger would be a fine addition to a linebacker room filled with youth.

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll loves versatility from his football players and the UCLA Bruins showcased the variety of ways Schwesinger can be deployed. Going from special teams maven to starting linebacker, Schwesinger can line up at middle linebacker or outside at Will.

While Roberts and White have the edge in terms of pro experience, Las Vegas is going to have open competition to identify starter and a young, energetic, and intelligent prospect like Schwesinger will only make the entire position group better.

Schwesinger arrives as a readymade special teams dynamo and Tom McMahon’s group needs a maniac-type. His resolve on special teams coverage units is team captain-worthy stuff.

Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) sacks Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene. Schwesinger racked up four sacks in 2024 in a standout season for the Bruins.

Strengths​

A disruptive tackling machine with a penchant to be around the football quite frequently, Schwesinger displays uncanny instincts as a read and react defender. He can recognize plays early, diagnose, and pull the trigger on getting to the football.

This really shows up as a run defender. he can shoot gaps quickly and beat blockers to stymie the ballcarrier behind or at the line of scrimmage. Not only that, but he uses the same instincts to be an effective blitzer, too.

While his overall straight-line speed doesn’t jump out, it’s his football intelligence that allows him to play much faster than a stopwatch will tell you.

Schwesinger also displays a motor that has reserves upon reserves as he maintains his tenacity snap-to-snap. This allows him to be a sideline-to-sideline linebacker that can chase, run, and hit.

Schwesinger is an effective defender in coverage thanks to the football IQ and ability to turn his hips to match up with tailbacks and tight ends, alike.

And, perhaps, the most important aspect of being a linebacker: Schwesinger is a solid fundamental tackler whose technique means sound open-field tackler.

All these traits sync well with the kind of defensive scheme Patrick Graham runs for the Raiders.

Weaknesses ​

Is that one big season in 2024 enough? Some evaluators don’t believe so and are concerned he’s a one-hit wonder type for not doing it for more than one season.

Schwesinger is also a lighter-type linebacker who is thin-framed and angular compared to more squatty and stout inside linebacker types. That means he can be washed out of plays by lead blockers and when bigger bodies attach to him, he has issues disengaging.

While he can create explosive hitting power, he doesn’t have the ideal wallop one would expect from a traditional inside linebacker, which portends to a fit as an outside linebacker.

While Schwesinger wasn’t susceptible to play-action or read-option-type misdirection, it’s going to be intriguing to see how he fares at the pro level where everyone is bigger, faster, and stronger than what he saw during his UCLA days.

His instincts and football intelligence have hindered him as he’s gotten caught looking in the backfield resulting in overrunning the play and losing gap discipline. At the NFL level, that can be quite detrimental to a defense.

Carson Schwesinger’s tape is awesome. Immediate trigger in the run game and a demon on special teams
pic.twitter.com/JoQVuHQBhC

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 13, 2025​

Projection​

Schwesinger is seen as a prospect that can go as high as the second round and as low as the fifth. Initially seen as a Day 3 prospect, Schwesinger opened eyes with his strong 2024 campaign and it appears he’s slated for a Round 2 or 3 selection.

The Raiders own the 37th overall pick in the second and 68th overall selection in the third stanzas. And the team owns the 108th overall pick in the fourth round, too.

There are higher touted linebacker prospects ahead of Schwesinger which likely makes him a Day 2 pick. NFL analyst Bucky Brooks ranked the UCLA linebacker as the fifth best prospect in his top five prospects by position list.

That all said, it wouldn’t surprise to see Schwesinger still on the board on Day 3. And if he is, Las Vegas would be wise to try and snare the talented Bruin.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...ders-draft-2025-carson-schwesinger-linebacker

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders training camp report: No back to the future

Pete Carroll | Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Plan to return to Napa reportedly won’t happen

Well, it would have been a really cool story and a fun summer.

But, you can’t cry over spilled wine.

In February, new head coach Pete Carroll got Bay Area Las Vegas Raiders fans excited when he told SiriusXM NFL Radio that the team was planning to return to Napa, California for training camp. The plan wasn’t finalized at the team, but it was the hope of the franchise.

However, Monday, while at the NFL owners meetings, The Athletic reported that it appears the Napa plan will not happen this year.

Doesn’t sound like training camp in Napa is going to happen after all. Raiders gave it a shot.

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 31, 2025​

This would have been the team’s first training camp back in the Napa wine country in six years. The Raiders trained in Napa, which was always considered one of the very best training camp setups in the NFL, from 1996-2019.

The franchise was open to returning to Napa (the hometown of young Raiders’ star tight end Brock Bowers) after its 2020 relocation to Las Vegas from Oakland, but COVID and other reasons kept the team at their Henderson, Nevada training facility for camp from 2020-23.

Under one-year general manager Tom Telesco, the Raiders trained in Costa Mesa, California for three weeks in 2024. Telesco’s Chargers trained there for several years.

The Raiders could always opt to travel somewhere for training camp or work through the desert heat this summer. Too bad Napa doesn’t appear to be in the card anymore, it would have been a lot of fun.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/3/31/24398065/raiders-news-napa-training-camp

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders offensive line: Jordan Meredith’s return will make for lively competition at guard

Jordan Meredith (61) is a versatile offensive lineman that can start at either guard spots for the Las Vegas Raiders. His return will make for a lively competition on the offensive line. | Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Newcomer Alex Cappa along with Dylan Parham should bring out best of the group

As an exclusive rights free agent, Jordan Meredith’s return to the Las Vegas Raiders was always an eventuality.

Exclusive rights free agents (ERFAs) are any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. These type of free agents have less flexibility than other types meaning, if the player’s original team offers a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on credited seasons), the player can’t negotiate with other teams. And has no recourse but to sign the one-year minimum offer or retire.

Thus, Meredith’s return to Silver & Black by the one-year pact on March 24 was mere formality. The offensive lineman is part of a slew of Raiders that re-signed this offseason and after seeing what the 27-year-old undrafted free agent produced as an eight-game starter in 2024, it’s easy to see why he was brought back.

#Raiders signed exclusive rights free agent Jordan Meredith

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 24, 2025​

If you use Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades as your be-all, end-all in offensive lineman evaluation, then you’ll dig the marks Meredith garnered from the group. Earning an 80.8 overall grade, PFF ranked the Western Kentucky product 10th out of 135 guards. The 75.7 and 78.4 grades in pass blocking and run blocking, respectively, put Meredith at 16th and 14th among the guard position.

PFF also charted Meredith with three penalties but zero sacks allowed, which is the top field in terms of the 135 guards the group compared the Raiders’ lineman to.

Meredith provided a solidifying presence on Las Vegas’ offensive line after bein inserted into the starting lineup in Week 6. From then to Week 15, Meredith played 100 to 91 percent of the snaps until injuries forced him to miss Weeks 16 and 17 before not playing a snap on offense in the regular season finale.

Meredith’s ascension did allow the Raiders to place 2024 second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson at center, but the talented Oregon product shifted back to guard due to Meredith’s ailments with Andre James reverting back to the pivot.

Raiders: G Jordan Meredith - 80.8

Every team's highest-graded upcoming free agent:https://t.co/0K8oHtQXPM

— PFF Las Vegas Raiders (@PFF_Raiders) January 22, 2025​

With Meredith back, along with free agent signing Alex Cappa, the offseason competition for starting spots along Las Vegas front five is going to be lively.

The Raiders releasing James, there’s a vacancy at center. That paves the way for Powers-Johnson to become the full-time center by winning the gig. The only other lineman listed as a center on the roster is fiery undrafted free agent Will Putnam, who spent the 2024 season on Las Vegas’ practice squad.

Las Vegas best five this past season were: Kolton Miller at left tackle, Meredith at left guard, Powers-Johnson at the pivot, Dylan Parham at right guard, and 2024 rookie DJ Glaze at right tackle. James was the backup after getting hurt while Thayer Munford Jr. began as the starting right tackle before losing his gig to Glaze. But provides valuable starting experience, swing tackle role, and jumbo tight end in certain alignments.

The fight for the guard spots will make the entire group better for it.

One interesting detail from our chat with John Spytek: the Raiders are looking at four guys competing for the two starting guard spots: Powers-Johnson, Parham, Cappa and Meredith.
And the three other than Cappa will compete for the center job.

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 31, 2025​

According to The Athletics’ Vic Tafur, Raiders general manager John Spytek envisions Powers-Johnson, Parham, Cappa, and Meredith to compete for two starting spots at guard. Powers-Johnson, Parham, and Meredith will also compete for the starting center role.

Meredith, an unheralded prospect out of Western Kentucky, has the versatility to play at the pivot or either guard spot, which should intensify the fight for starting snaps.

Meredith started his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 then landed with the Raiders in 2022. After a short stint with the Cleveland Browns, Meredith found his way back to the Raiders practice squad. Inked to a future/reserve contract in January of 2023, Meredith went on to showcase he can play at the NFL level.

Showcasing lateral movement with good vision and anticipation, Meredith shows improved anchor and base and ability to hang tough on the interior. The 6-foot-2 and 300-pounder should have the inside track at left guard even though the Raiders roster is far from finalized.

Cappa, meanwhile, is looking to rebound after a tough 2024 campaign that saw PFF grade him as one of the worst guards in the league. Garnering a 50.5 overall grade (110th out of 135 guards) with a 39.7 pass blocking and 54.9 run blocking marks from the group, PFF charted Cappa with eight sacks allowed — 134th out of 135.

6-foot-6. 312 pounds. Super Bowl LV Champion.

Meet the Raiders newest addition to the offensive line, Alex Cappa ‍https://t.co/ZG4JgRlUYx

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) March 6, 2025​

Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady are well aware of what Cappa brings to the table as Spytek was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers front office that drafted Cappa. And Brady was the quarterback behind the offensive lineman’s protection.

A right guard by trade, Cappa — a third-round pick (94th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft — has the experience to make a go for a starting nod. At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, the 30-year-old Cappa does represent a bigger option at right guard than the 6-foot-3 and 285-pound Parham.

Still, Parham has started 48 of 51 games in his three-year career since sporting Silver & Black and will likely put up a strong fight, especially considering 2025 is his contract year after being a third-round pick (90th overall) in the 2022 draft.

As mentioned above, Las Vegas’ roster building continues.

Free agency is still ongoing and the 2025 edition of the draft happens in late April. And even more competition could be added to the Raiders offensive line.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...rs-roster-2025-jordan-meredith-offensive-line

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Film room: Is Demetrius Raiders run defense Knight in shining armor?

Demetrius Knight Jr. | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Diving into what the South Carolina linebacker could bring to the Raiders

With the Las Vegas Raiders needing a linebacker in the 2025 NFL Draft, Silver and Black Pride has been cycling through this year’s prospects at the position. Next up is South Carolina’s Demetrius Knight Jr.

Having spent four seasons at Georgia Tech and one at Charlotte before finishing up at South Carolina last fall, Knight will be one of the older rookies (turns 25 years old in July) in the NFL next season. That’s also helped him become an instinctual backer, especially against the run.

According to Pro Football Focus, the former Gamecock earned an 85.4 run defense grade that ranked tied for 20th among all FBS linebackers and was the fourth-highest in the SEC. He also racked up an impressive 22 ‘defensive stops’ against the run while missing just five tackles.

Knight would be a suitable Robert Spillane replacement for the Raiders, so let’s dive into the tape and see what he can bring to the table.

Not only is Demetrius Knight is quick to key and diagnose run plays but he also understands when to shoot the gap #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/6iH7H24c4P

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 31, 2025​

As mentioned above, Knight’s experience has helped develop his instincts against the run as he’s quick to key and diagnose plays to get to the right spot. But what also stands out about his football IQ is he shows an understanding of when to come downhill and shoot the gap.

So, when Alabama runs the QB lead pin-and-pull concept with Jalen Milroe, the linebacker immediately recognizes it and starts working toward the sideline. That allows him to mirror Milroe, and instead of just running full speed to the outside to try to beat the puller to the spot, Knight slows down in the cutback lane to take it away from Milroe.

On top of that, Knight also waits until pulling guard and running back who is lead blocking clear out a lane before he shoots the gap to make a tackle right at the line of scrimmage. That’s impressive awareness and patience from the well-experienced linebacker.

Nice job by Demetrius Knight to take away the TE on the RPO, redirect and make the tackle on the RB #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/UisHmUQJnd

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 31, 2025​

LSU is running an RPO here where the tight end works across the formation to make it look like split zone. However, the left tackle kicks out the defensive end while the tight end runs a flat route. The offense’s goal is to get the linebacker out of position by either catching him hanging inside too long and throwing the ball to the tight end, or running the ball up the middle if the backer follows the tight end.

Initially, Knight starts working wide to cover the tight end which influences the quarterback to hand the ball off. That’s where Knight’s lateral movement skills come into play as he redirects and makes the tackle on the running back for a short gain.

This is a great example of a linebacker locating the ball in the backfield well which is hard to do against RPOs and option plays that are designed to get linebackers out of position.

Good example of Demetrius Knight's heavy hands and long arms to take on blocks #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/QnTCeUR3il

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 31, 2025​

The South Carolina product also stands out with how he takes on blocks in the running game by using his hands, showing impressive strength at the point of attack and taking advantage of his 33.25-inch arms. All three of those factors come into play in the clip above.

He’s on the backside of a split zone call from Texas A&M where the left guard climbs up to the second level to block him. At the point of attack, Knight shoots his hands and lands them perfectly on the guard’s chest. That’s where his strength comes into play as he gains control of the block and closes the backside A-gap with the offensive lineman.

Finally, Knight’s long arms allow him to get extension on the block. So, when the running back tries to cut backside, he’s able to disengage from the guard and get involved in the tackle.

Demetrius Knight slips the block and uses those long arms to make the tackle #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/gCgwWzIvd8

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 31, 2025​

Additionally, Knight has shown the ability to slip blocks in the running game.

The Aggies run a wham concept here where the fullback works toward the C-gap to kick out the first defender that shows up in the gap to help keep the inside rushing lane clear for the running back. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks have Knight lined up on the line of scrimmage pre-snap and work wide/outside of the tackle post-snap.

That puts Knight in the C-gap where he has to take on the wham block from the fullback. However, he uses his quickness and agility to make the fullback whiff and slip the block. Additionally, we’ll see another example of how those long arms benefit him, helping increase his tackle radius to layout and bring down the running back.

Impressive closing speed from Demetrius Knight to the strip sack #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/OCDDpQPfho

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 31, 2025​

While Knight isn’t great in coverage, he can impact the passing game when blitzing. He clocked a 4.58-second 40-yard dash while weighing 235 pounds at the NFL Combine, which gives him some impressive closing speed on the quarterback.

South Carolina is in man coverage here, where he’s responsible for covering either the tight end or running back, whichever releases first. However, both players are involved in Oklahoma's protection scheme, which puts the linebacker on a “green dog blitz,” meaning he can rush the passer since his man didn’t go out on a route.

Once Knight sees both the tight end and running back commit to blocking the edge rusher, he knows it’s his time to pounce. So, when the quarterback starts to leave the pocket, Knight blitzes off the edge and closes to get the strip sack that leads to a scoop and score for the defense.

Good example of Demetrius Knight's sub-4.6 speed at 235 pounds #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/BiCPjxnINX

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 31, 2025​

We’ll wrap up with one more example of how our subject's speed shows up on the field and another way he can contribute against the passing attack.

Oklahoma runs an RPO and he does get caught stepping downhill to play the run initially, leaving the tight end open on the flat route. However, he takes a good angle and has the speed to chase down the tight end. That’s a solid recovery against a play designed to get the linebacker out of position.

---

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Knight is projected to come off the board in the third round and ranks 82nd overall as of March 31. If the Raiders don’t take a linebacker earlier, don’t be surprised if the former Gamecock heads to Las Vegas via a mid-round pick as he’d boost the team’s run defense on the second level.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...emetrius-knight-south-carolina-film-breakdown

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders April news tracker

Ashton Jeanty | Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

All the latest news and rumors

We’re into the fourth month of the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 offseason after a 2024 season which didn’t go as hoped and the team is looking toward the future with NFL free agency in the second phase and the NFL draft happening through the 24-26th this month. We’re collecting all the news, injury reports, signings, rumors, and everything you need to follow the Raiders and the NFL in the month of April.

We’ll update everything below in reverse chronological order:

April 1

5:55 p.m.: If the son of general manager John Spytek has anything to say about it, Ashton Jeanty will be a Raider this month.

#Raiders GM John Spytek: “My son has made it no secret that if we don’t pick Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 that he’s walking out of the family and he's gonna find somebody else. … He basically told Mark Davis if my dad doesn’t take him he’s doing a bad job.” pic.twitter.com/RMusArRywO

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 2, 2025​

4:09 p.m.: This is great. Jackson Powers-Johnson pulled a fast one on some Raiders’ season-ticket holders during a stadium tour.

POV: You booked a tour and got JPJ instead.

30 season ticket members received the opportunity to have an exclusive tour of Allegiant, thanks to @Ticketmaster.

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 1, 2025​

8:35 a.m.: The Raiders’ specialists will be pleased with this development.

The Raiders were one of seven organizations behind the proposal to allow teams to prepare K-balls before gameday. It has now passed and will be implemented this season. Excited to hear the analysis from @AJCole90 and @DanielCarlson38

— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) April 1, 2025​

7:40 a.m.: The tush-push debate rages on and the NFL owners tabled the subject for a vote until May.

The tush-push ban has been tabled until May, per source.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 1, 2025​

6:59 a.m.: The NFL owners voted to approve a new rule in which both teams will possess the ball in overtime during the regular season as well as in the playoffs.

As expected, NFL owners passed the rule making playoff overtime rules apply to regular season, too. Both teams get to possess the ball. But the rule was amended to make OT 10 minutes, not 15.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 1, 2025​

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/1/24398696/raiders-april-news-tracker-draft-2025

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Carroll’s corners: Which CBs in the draft fit Carroll’s profile?

Azareye’h Thomas | Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

Looking at a few CBs who the Raiders head coach might be interested in during the middle rounds of the draft

Whether it was Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner during the Legion of Boom days or more recently with Riq Woolen, new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll liked to stack his defense with long-armed cornerbacks during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. More specifically, Carroll had an affinity for corners with 32-inch arms or more.

With the 2025 NFL Draft just a few weeks away and the Raiders presumtively in the cornerback market, what prospects at the position fit Carroll’s “type”? Below is a look at the corners who measured in with at least 32-inch arms during the NFL Combine.

All draft projections are via NFL Mock Draft Database and as of March 31.

Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State​

Draft projection: 2nd round (40th overall)

Arm length: 32⅜”

Thomas is the highest profile prospect of the bunch, teetering on the first-round category. He only snagged one interception over the last two years, but the former Seminole’s long arms helped him rackup 14 passes defended during that timeframe. He also had a strong performance at this year’s Senior Bowl. A 4.58-second 40-yard dash time brings up questions about Thomas’ long speed, but he does have traits to be effective in press and zone coverages, according to Bleacher Report’s Cory Giddings.

“Though he has shown decent man skills; his size, length, and physicality make him an appealing fit for press and zone-heavy schemes, where his ability to disrupt routes and contest passes will be maximized,” Giddings wrote. “While his technique and consistency in both the run and pass games need improvement, Thomas’ athletic traits and competitive mentality provide a solid foundation for growth. With refinement, he has the potential to become a valuable contributor in an NFL secondary.”

Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina​

Draft projection: 2nd round (39th overall)

Arm length: 32⅝”

A torn ACL in September limited Revel to just three games this past season and will likely keep him out of the first round later this month. However, he still managed to come up with two interceptions, including a pick six, during his limited time on the field in 2024 and is a year removed from surrendering just 250 yards in 12 games, per Pro Football Focus. How the former Pirate’s medicals check out will be a big factor, but NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein thinks he has the potential to be a starter in the NFL soon.

“Big, long and fast are the physical descriptors that stand out for the East Carolina corner,” Zierlein wrote. “Revel is leggy when matching press release but he’s disruptive once he gets his hands on the wideout. He plays upright in man coverage, tends to allow small pockets of separation due to his high center of gravity and still needs improvement when it comes to finding and defending the deep ball, despite his ability to stay in phase with vertical routes. He has ideal length and good vision from zone, and he should continue to improve in that coverage with more experience. Revel suffered a torn ACL in September, but his measurables, explosiveness and upside give him a good chance to become an early starter.”

Darien Porter, Iowa State​

Photo by Keith Gillett/IconSportswire
Darien Porter

Draft projection: 2nd round (59th overall)

Arm length: 33⅛”

The combine gave Porter’s draft stock a major boost as he measured in with the longest arms and had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time (4.30 seconds) among cornerbacks. Any defensive coordinator would be happy to worth with that type of length and speed in the secondary, especially considering the former Cyclone is a converted wide receiver that switched sides of the ball three years ago. Being an older prospect with only one season of starting experience is a tough combination, but Zierlein outlined how Porter can develop into a successful NFL corner.

“Sixth-year senior with elite traits and special teams talent but only one year of starting experience at cornerback,” Zierlein wrote. “Porter’s rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism, burst and speed to handle more man coverage. He has excellent zone awareness with the twitch and ball skills to expand his sphere of influence. He uses his length to shade downfield throws but needs to get stronger to improve his press, his contest and his tackling in run support. More schooling is needed as a pattern-matcher but his athletic profile and instant impact on special teams should create more confidence in projecting Porter’s continued ascension as a CB2/CB3.”

Zah Frazier, UTSA​

Draft projection: 4th round (128th overall)

Arm length: 32⅞”

UTSA produced Woolen for Carroll a few years ago, so could the Roadrunners have another cornerback waiting for the head coach? Frazier is cut from a similar cloth as Woolen, combining long arms with excellent speed, clocking a 4.36-second 40 in Indianapolis. That combined with six interceptions this past fall gives him a high ceiling at the next lever, per The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs.

“This is not an overly physical coverage player, but he has elite recovery speed, elite length, and very good ball-tracking skills to hunt down the football in the air against aggressive quarterbacks who want to let it fly,” Crabbs wrote. “Frazier has the required burst when playing overtop of receivers and routes to drive and attack in front of his face, but once he can play in the trail position, he has seemingly effortless gas that allows him to work into the catch point and disrupt throws.”

Tommi Hill, Nebraska​

Draft projection: 5th round (142nd overall)

Arm length: 32⅞”

Hill had a rough year in 2024 as he battled plantar fasciitis and had to miss several games throughout the campaign. However, he had a strong showing the year prior with four interceptions and nine passes defended to get on the NFL’s radar and become a quality corner at the next level, according to The Draft Network’s Daniel Harms.

“His injury in 2024 forced him to play tentatively, and he didn’t activate against the run or downhill as quickly as he did in 2023, but the tools are there,” Harms wrote. “His deep and recovery speed also took a hit, but early in the season, he was flying around making plays against Colorado. Although he took a step back due to injury, Hill is an NFL corner, from body type to football IQ, and he possesses the tools to get even better in the NFL.”

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...roll-cornerback-azareyeh-thomas-darien-porter

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman dies at 74

John Vella (75) | Set Number: X21061 TK1 R19 F30

John Vella played 8 seasons for Raiders

The Raiders announced the passing of a key starter on their first Super Bowl-winning team.

The franchise announced Wednesday that offensive lineman John Vella has died. He was 74.

pic.twitter.com/Uxiq3foKOl

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 2, 2025​

The Oakland Raiders drafted Vella in the second round in 1972 out of USC. Vella played his first eight NFL season with the Raiders, through 1979. He played for the Minnesota Vikings in 1980, his final season.

Vella played 84 games for the Raiders with 48 starts. He was a starting tackle from 1974-76, the team’s first Super Bowl winning-season. He was hampered by injuries during his three final seasons with the Silver and Black.

Vella was known as a fun-loving loyal teammate who kept in touch with former teammates and was a presence around the franchise for years after his retirement. In retirement, he owned some Raiders-only retail stores.

Our condolences go out to Vella’s family and friends.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...-news-john-vella-offensive-lineman-dies-at-74

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Interior trench battle: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, Alex Cappa, Jordan Meredith competing for 3 starting spots

Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham | Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

John Spytek told reporters it’s an open competition for the starting guard and center spots

At the NFL Owners meetings this week, Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek dropped an interesting nugget of information when it comes to the team’s depth chart for this upcoming season.

According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, Spytek said Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, Alex Cappa and Jordan Meredith will compete for the three starting interior offensive line spots this summer.

One interesting detail from our chat with John Spytek: the Raiders are looking at four guys competing for the two starting guard spots: Powers-Johnson, Parham, Cappa and Meredith.
And the three other than Cappa will compete for the center job.

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 31, 2025​

Granted, some of this was expected when the Raiders signed Cappa to a two-year, $11 million contract in free agency. While $5.5 million per season isn’t an expensive deal in the current guard market, it is starting money for a right guard as the figure ranks 16th at the position, per Over The Cap.

So, it was expected that Cappa and Parham will be battling it out in training camp, especially since the latter is entering a contract year. Also, Cappa has exclusively lined up at right guard during his seven-year career while Parham has been notably better on the right side than the left, creating a natural competition.

But what’s interesting is that Powers-Johnson and Meredith are included in the position battle.

One would assume the 2024 second-round pick has the first-string center job locked up after putting together an impressive rookie campaign, and Meredith ended the regular season last year as Pro Football Focus’ seventh-highest graded guard. However, both will have to fight to return to their respective posts.

Additionally, Spytek mentioned that Powers-Johnson, Parham and Meredith will compete for the starting center job. Maybe the new regime doesn’t want JPJ to get to comfortable, but it seems like his job to lose.

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
Jordan Meredith

The Oregon product took over the reigns from Andre James midseason last fall and performed well enough that the organization felt comfortable moving on from James during free agency, one-year after the veteran signed a three-year contract.

Also, outside of 24 preseason snaps in 2023, Meredith has no game experience at center and Parham has only lined up there during backup/emergency situations when James was injured in 2022 and 2023. Granted, the former likely snapped the ball plenty during his practice squad days and the latter was viewed as a potential center coming out of Memphis. Not to mention, Powers-Johnson played well at left guard last season, too.

Still, it feels like the Raiders will most likely roll out Meredith at left guard, Powers-Johnson at center and either Cappa or Parham at right guard. That puts each player at the position where they’ve had the most success so far during their respective NFL careers, meaning the real battle is the one most were expecting; Cappa versus Parham.

If that’s the case, it will be interesting to see what the coaching staff prioritizes. Cappa is coming off a down year while being on the wrong side of 30, which could make Parham the better short-term option. However, if the team is looking to build for the future, starting the guy who is under contract for next season might make more sense.

To complicate matters, the NFL Draft is about three weeks away where another contender could hop into the proverbial ring in the trenches. While the question was about the Raiders’ plan at right tackle, Spytek’s response mentioned that he has nine draft picks to work with and that he loves offensive linemen (h/t Tafur).

So, another interior offensive lineman could be added to the roster by the end of the month and it sounds like DJ Glaze’s job isn’t 100 percent safe, opening up another can of worms/another competition for a starting job up front...

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...hnson-dylan-parham-alex-cappa-jordan-meredith

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Thoughts on Raiders giving Geno Smith contract extension

Geno Smith | Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Breaking down new deal

The Las Vegas Raiders gave Geno Smith a new contract extension Thursday. We break down the major aspects of the deal:

Geno Smith's two-year, $75M extension is worth up to $85.5M. The $10.5M in incentives are all tied to team performance, per source.

The #Raiders' QB is now on a three-year contract with a base value of $106M. Of that money, $66.5M is guaranteed https://t.co/xSqlqz3rwq

— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) April 3, 2025​

Probably less than he expected:

The Raiders are basically paying Smith $106 million over three years with some incentives and solid guarantees. Frankly, this is probably less that what he aimed to get when talks started with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. But they were far apart and the Seahawks dealt him to the Raiders. The word is he wanted to average more than $40 million a year, but now he has to hope he can cash in on the incentives. Don’t get me wrong, this is a solid deal for Smith, who will turn 35 this year and became a quality starter in recent years. But it’s also a fair deal for all involved.

Geno Smith's 2 year, $75M ($37.5M APY) extension with the #Raiders makes him the 17th highest average paid QB in football.

A reported $66.5M guaranteed ranks 17th.

— Spotrac (@spotrac) April 3, 2025​

Three-year window:

Smith likely won’t be the Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2028. He will be 37 when his contract expires. He has the same contract length as Pete Carroll, who he thrived under in Seattle. This is the window. If the Raiders are going to win with Smith it will be soon.

Contract timeline:

The deal was agreed to 27 days after the trade, the Raiders sent a third-down pick (No. 92 overall), was agreed upon. It may have taken some time, but it was always going to happen. The Raiders start their offseason workout program Tuesday and Smith is expected to be there. So, getting the deal completed now makes sense.

Geno Smith Accuracy Rankings:

2024: #2
2023: #1
2022: #1
2021: #1

Top-3 most accurate QBs last 4 years combined:

1. Geno Smith
2. Joe Burrow
3. Kirk Cousins

starting with the Jets in 2013, is Geno Smith the most improved quarterback over the course of a career in history? pic.twitter.com/wueiOpaJT1

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 3, 2025​

Change draft plan?

There is no reason to think this contract changes the way the Raiders approach the quarterback position in the draft. It was reported shortly after the trade that the Raiders could still take a quarterback in the first round. That is probably still the case. It’s probably not likely, but it could happen. Yet, the more probable scenario is the Raiders look to draft a quarterback to groom under Smith in the mid rounds. This contract doesn’t change that.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/3/24400650/raiders-news-geno-smith-contract-extension