News Raiders Team Notes

[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
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

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

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders Draft 2025: Dylan Sampson can add serious speed to backfield

Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson (6) is a dynamic prospect in the NFL Draft and can add serious speed to the Las Vegas Raiders backfield. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee running back is a dynamic prospect in a deep running back class

The Las Vegas Raiders did well to add legitimate speed to the running back room by signing veteran Raheem Mostert.

Despite being 33 in a few short days (on April 9), Mostert has low mileage in terms of carries over the span of his 10 year career (759; along with 111-career receptions) and appears to have plenty of juice left in the tank.

But then again, Mostert is going to be 33 years old. Thus the Silver & Black adding a running back in the 2025 NFL Draft only seems apt. It’s considered a deep class with talent available in the Top 10 all the way to the mid and late rounds.

If the Raiders want to double down on a scintillating halfback with speed, Tennessee's Dylan Sampson fits the bill — and then some. At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, this tailback may not scream workhorse back from size alone, but this Volunteer has the production and athleticism teams salivate for.

By The Numbers
Dylan Sampson, Running Back, Tennessee

• 2024: 13 games, 258 carries, 1,491 yards, 22 touchdowns; 20 receptions, 143 yards
• Career: 35 games, 422 carries, 2,492 yards, 35 touchdowns; 40 receptions, 342 yards, 1 touchdown

Dylan Sampson - RB - Tennessee

Massive Year 3 breakout:
+ SEC Offensive Player of the Year
+ 1,634 scrimmage yards
+ 22 TDs

No 40-time, but explosive plays littered throughout his film pic.twitter.com/jGKagtjQ1c

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) March 14, 2025​

How He Fits​

Beyond Mostert, the Raiders running back room looks like a lot gathered by an expansion team during the expansion draft. Zamir White, Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, Sincere McCormick, and Isaiah Spiller join the veteran as the collection of halfbacks.

While it remains a relatively young room, Mostert the oldest at 32 going on 33 and White, Laube, Collier at 25, adding more youth isn’t a bad thing.

Especially with the group very unsettled.

Plopping Sampson, who is just 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until September 14, in the middle of that fight for roster spots separates from the pretenders from contenders.

A dynamic ballcarrier who as a lethal one-cut and jump-cut and the speed to torch the defense and house the carry, Sampson brings fresh young legs with the fleet-feet similar to Mostert. Underutilized as a receiver out of the backfield, Sampson has the hands to be a safety net and dangerous weapon as a pass catcher, too.

Compared to Brian Westbrook, Sampson can be profiled as former Raider Charlie Garner and fellow Tennessee standout Travis Henry.

And here’s Sampson’s biggest fit after seeing White carry the ball for the Raiders: Patience in letting his blocks develop and not ramming himself into the backs of his blockers with wreck less abandon (more on this in the Strengths section below).

Strengths​

Sampson’s vision, instincts, patience, and speed jump off when watching him carry the ball at Tennessee. His understanding of blocking scheme and feel for where the holes and run lanes develop allow him to use his explosive jump cuts to hit the crease and explode out of the opening.

Despite his compact frame at his size, he can break free from contact with his lower body strength. And his short-area quickness and quick feet result in uncanny elusiveness in traffic and when things get messy at the line of scrimmage. This helps him tremendously in short-yardage situations where he converts and falls forward for yardage and touchdowns.

Dylan Sampson would be a really fun 1B to De'Von Achane in Miami playing the Raheem Mostert role.

Raheem Mostert in 2022 - 209 ATT | 18 TD playing in a 1A/1B role.

Dylan Sampson - 22 TD | 82.1% success rate within the 10 yard line per @FootballStock

Profiles similar to Raheem… pic.twitter.com/FxowaVMpzc

— Snoog's Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) March 18, 2025​

Sampson plays much faster than his timed 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the Tennessee Pro Day and has been clocked at 21-23 miles per hour in college. For context, Mostert clocked in at 23 miles per hour, too, during his time with the Miami Dolphins.

As such, Sampson is an effective inside and outside runner who is equally as fleet-footed when he needs to go inside and bounce it outside.

Weaknesses​

Size, or lack of it, is the biggest detriment to Sampson’s ability at the next level. Workhorse backs tend to be a bit taller and heavier and at 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, how this Volunteer holds up to a heavy workload and pass protection is key.

The size and his developing pass protection game is a knock on Sampson. He looks uncertain when sorting out blitzing defenders. That kind of hesitation is detrimental to the quarterback as even a split second is too much time thinking. With the NFL’s complex blitz packages, Sampson will need to get up to speed quickly on pass protection or become an early-down back instead of a three-down type. A running back who never leaves the field not only can run and catch the ball, but they deflect defenders looking to put a hurt on the quarterback, too.

Ball security is another area of opportunity as Sampson coughed up the ball for times in 2024 and defenders were able to rake out the ball.

Dylan Sampson full testing numbers:

- 5’8/200
- 30 1/2” arms/8 3/4” hands
- 4.42 40 (1.58 10 yard split) [Pro Day]
- 35” vertical
- 10’ 4” broad jump
- 13 reps on bench press

This goes along with the production of nearly 1,634 all-purpose yards and an important leadership role… pic.twitter.com/XewznxwIjb

— Shayne Pickering (@shaynep_media) March 13, 2025​

Sampson also needs to work on his receiving skill set in terms of route running and adjusting to the ball in flight. This is largely due to not being incorporated regularly as a pass-catching option at Tennessee.

That all said, while size is a concern. Heralded prospect Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) is of similar height but a rocked up 211 pounds. And McCormick is 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds and he showed the ability to carry the rock in the NFL with success.

Projection​

In what’s described as a talent-laden and deep running back class in the 2025 draft, Sampson is viewed as a Day 3 selection, going as high as the third round.

His overall lack of size may be detrimental to some teams, but for a Raiders squad that needs more explosiveness and patience in the backfield, a committee/hot-hand approach is likely on the horizon in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s scheme.

Las Vegas owns the 68th pick in the third round as well as 108th in the fourth, and 143rd in the fifth round. Unless the Raiders land a tailback in the first or second rounds, Sampson is a worthwhile look in the third and fourth stanzas. If somehow he’s available later than that, trade up if you can.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/4/24398128/raiders-draft-2025-dylan-sampson-running-back

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Mailbag: Is Sanders still an option in the first round?

Shedeur Sanders | Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Returning Raider Nation’s questions for the week

With the calendar turning to April, we’re officially in NFL Draft month and the Las Vegas Raiders are less than three weeks away from being on the clock. The draft will be the focus of this week’s mailbag, so let’s get to it!

Q: If Shedeur Sanders slides to six and Tom Brady wants him but Pete Carroll and John Spytek want Aston Jeanty or an offensive tackle, who do you think Mark Davis would side with? And who would you prefer?

A: First, I don’t think Davis is going to be very involved, if at all, in who the Raiders take. He’s pretty hands-off when it comes to personnel matters, and Spytek will get the final say on all draft decisions as the general manager.

Especially with Geno Smith getting his contract extension this week, I’d be pretty surprised if Las Vegas still took Sanders at six. In my opinion, if the Raiders are going to add a quarterback in the draft, it will be someone like Jalen Milroe who is a mid-rounder with a lot of potential but needs time to develop.

Out of those three options, I’d prefer getting an offensive tackle like Will Campbell or Armand Membou.

RaiderEddieInDenver
I saw a great YT video from Brett Kolman recently on how the run game floor gets set by the blocking (measured by yards before contact) and the run game ceiling is set by the RB (measured by yards per at). The Raiders were very low in both metrics. Is this a good argument to prioritize the OL and possibly draft RB in the second or later?​

A: In my opinion, yes. This ties into part of my answer above and is a big factor in why I’d go with Campbell/Memebou over Jeanty. Plus, there’s plenty of depth at running back this year.

FlagstaffRaiderFan
Jeanty at 6 seems high for a RB, considering they usually lose effectiveness by 30 yrs old (or sooner), and are easy to replace, with solid starters being found in later rounds, year after year. Is he really a generational talent at RB, and actually worth drafting in the top 10?​

A: I’ll preface this by saying I think Jeanty will have a good NFL career, but I don’t think he’s a “generational” talent who would be a top-10 pick in a stronger draft class. He’s a first-round talent for sure but is not in the same category as Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson, who were top-10 running backs and have been great pros. In my opinion, Jeanty is a tier below those two.

Q: What are your thoughts on Jalon Walker at six? I’ve been trying to sell myself on the idea since Lance Zierlein mocked him to us twice now.

Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Jalon Walker

A: I’ve seen the buzz that Jalon Walker could be a top-five pick, so it sounds like he is an option for the Raiders. I like Walker’s game as a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher, but I have some concerns that he won’t have a natural position at the next level which makes me weary of taking him sixth overall.

It would depend on who else is available, I’d prefer Mason Graham or Will Johnson if they’re still on the board. Taking Walker would be one of those situations where I don’t hate the pick, but would describe my reaction as cautiously optimistic. I think there’s a world where the Georgia product becomes a good NFL player, but there’s also a chance that he falls into the Isaiah Simmons category of not having a true position at the next level.

Walker reminds me a lot of Haason Reddick, who was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in 2017 but struggled to find his footing in Arizona to begin his career.

Q: How do you feel about the Raiders’ cornerback room? Do you think bringing in a quality starter is a big need?

A: Especially after losing Nate Hobbs in free agency, cornerback is a big need to me. The defense could use a starting nickelback and I’ve been pounding the table for the front office to add a No. 1 corner since last offseason. Jack Jones proved his not capable of that role last year and while Jakorian Bennett showed promise, the sample size is still small with Bennett.

I think there’s some young talent and potential in the cornerback room, but there are too many question marks right now. Addressing the position early in the draft is definitely on the table for Spytek and Co.

DaysofOld
Do you think we should take a chance on Shavon Revel out of ECU? I have heard a lot of good things about him but he is rehabbing a right knee ACL repair. I hope he’s there in the 3rd.​

A: Shavon Revel is a first-round talent, so I’d be pretty shocked if he’s still around in the third round even with the torn ACL. In a best-of-a-bad situation type of scenario, the good aspect of Revel’s injury is that it happened in September and he’s reportedly going to be ready for training camp. NFL Mock Draft Database has the East Carolina product as the 39th player overall and a second-round projection, so he should be on the table at No. 37.

Q: What would you think of the Raiders trading No. 6 to the Giants, Cleveland or Tennessee for their second and sixth this year and their first next year? (I don’t know the right formula). That way, the Raiders could put two firsts together next year, move up for a quarterback and still have a solid draft this year.

A: I like where your head is at by adding more draft capital and trying to take advantage of where the strength of this draft class is in the second/third rounds. However, the lack of premium talent at the top of the class makes it less likely that the teams you mentioned would be willing to give up much to double-dip in the top five as the Texans did a couple of years ago. A team that’s looking to trade up by swapping firsts and throwing in a mid-rounder is more likely.

TOWNBIZZ25
Would you trade up for Travis Hunter?​

A: I’d rather see the Raiders hold onto their picks and address more spots on the roster than give up assets for Travis Hunter. He is a unique talent with his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball, but I don’t see that being sustainable in the NFL. Unfortunately, I don’t anticipate a situation where Hunter gets drafted by the Raiders.

DaysofOld
Matt, would you trade out of pick #6 even though we could miss out on a player like Jeanty or a top 10 prospect for more draft picks? Reason being we are behind or weak in multiple areas of the roster where most playoff bound teams are pretty much solid/set and just missing that key player. Most of the other team mocks that I’m seeing are just padding up and/or seem to be picking BPA which really sheds light (when I compare) on the uphill battle that we are dealing with here. I just don’t think we should blow the wad when there is a RB class that is so deep—it’s a big risk banking on one guy when we could potentially select a couple of RB’s to follow the trend (ie Detroit Lions) of having a 1…2 backfield punch. I just have 2nd thoughts on Jeanty’s durability and ability to hold up in the big leagues.​

A: On a related note, yes, I would be in favor of the Raiders trading back in the first round. As mentioned above, I think there is a lot of value in the second and third rounds of this year’s draft class, compared to the top of the class. So acquiring more selections to add more young talent rather than swinging for the fences with one player might be the best course of action later this month.

Q: What do you see as Aidan O’Connell’s future?

A: Especially with Smith signing the extension, O’Connell’s future in Las Vegas is as a backup. O’Connell is only under contract for two more years and the Raiders will likely add a quarterback of the future in the next two drafts. Maybe O’Connell gets a chance to start somewhere else, but he’s more of a backup/spot starter to me.

---

That’ll do it for this week’s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you’d like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95, email them to [email protected] or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...nfl-draft-mailbag-shedeur-sanders-quarterback

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders Draft 2025: Jalen Milroe a worthwhile gamble?

Ultra athletic and raw as a passer, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (4) would be a high upside understudy under Geno Smith for the Las Vegas Raiders. | Butch Dill-Imagn Images

Alabama quarterback is an intriguing option to learn under Geno Smith

Geno Smith is the prize both Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll beam about. More so Carroll, who had Smith as his quarterback when the former was the latter’s head coach with the Seattle Seahawks.

Las Vegas swung a trade with Seattle for the signal caller and the veteran is slated to be solve the QB conundrum the Silver & Black have had since the team dumped former long-time starter Derek Carr.

But, it was only a natural question for Carroll on does landing Smith — a quarterback he’s oh so familiar with — alter the Raiders’ draft approach. Namely, is there still a possibility of taking a quarterback prospect as high as the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft?

“Sure. Yeah, yeah. We’re building always. So, taking Geno is an immediate fix for us. It’s going to last us. We’re going to get a number of years from Geno at his very best. He’s healthy and ready to go. He’s as tuned in as he’s ever been,” Carroll began when asked that question at the annual NFL meetings this past Monday. “But that doesn’t mean that we don’t see a guy - there’s some guys coming out that have got tremendous potential, and we’ll just take a look at each spot and the opportunity that’s presented and the choices that we have. But we’re not excluding taking any position at this time.”

Thus, let’s take a look at a prospect who is an intriguing option to be an understudy for Smith: Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who the Raiders are slated to host for a private visit.

By The Numbers
Jalen Milroe, Quarterback, Alabama

• 2024: 13 games, 205 of 319 (64.3 percent completion rate), 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions; 168 carries, 726 yards, 20 touchdowns
• Career: 38 games, 426 of 663 (64.3 percent completion rate), 6,016 yards, 45 touchdowns, 20 interceptions; 375 carries, 1,577 yards, 33 touchdowns

There’s just a lot on the tape to like—needs refinement and development and habit building—but tremendous talent for @JalenMilroe pic.twitter.com/mMUUytWKNL

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 31, 2025​

How He Fits​

Smith is the headliner after signing a 2-year contract extension, but Las Vegas’ quarterback room can use an infusion of talent — especially an explosive athlete like Milroe. At 6-foot-2, 217 pounds, and a blistering 4.37-second 40-yard dash time at Alabama’s Pro Day, the 22-year-old brings with him unparalleled athleticism to a Raiders QB position. Smith is an athlete too and can gallop when needed, but the 34-year-old doesn’t have the jets this Alabama product does.

Milroe also has a Howitzer cannon of an arm which will remind Raiders fans the glory days of old where the late great Al Davis preferred the vertical, long-bomb passes that left the opposition gasping for breath. The ball zips off Milroe’s hands with velocity whether he fully steps into a throw or not.

With his arm and athleticism, and Smith entrenched as QB1, taking Milroe in the draft and having him learn behind the starter, Aidan O’Connell, and Carter Bradley (currently the other two signal callers on the roster), gives Las Vegas a different dynamic in the quarterback room.

None of the aforementioned names have the same elite speed and powerful arm, and at age 22, Milroe can learn and develop under Smith while being sprinkled in on designed runs. Milroe has potential to be a short-yardage, red-zone situation nightmare matchup for opposing defenses due to his combination of size, speed, and decisiveness with the ball in his hands.

Jalen Milroe blazes to a 4.37 in the 40 yard dash. He is this draft classes’ Justin Fields. In the right situation and with the right pieces around him, he possesses ELITE traits that no other QB in this draft class has. Ceiling for him is Jalen Hurts. pic.twitter.com/d50tRBXQ03

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 19, 2025​

Strengths​

Milroe is equipped with a live throwing arm that can flick the 50 or more yards down the field with ease. His compact release allows him to fire with velocity even in instances where he’s unable to fully step into a throw.

Milroe also has elite speed to breakaway from defenders with his jarring acceleration. This allows him to make a mockery of pursuit angles as he’s able to get out of the pocket, find a lane, and turn on the afterburners as a legitimate threat to take it the house anywhere on the field.

At his size, he’s a quarterback in a linebacker’s body and he’s able to absorb contact and maintain forward momentum. The burst, vision, and balance are the envy of running backs, really.

When protected and comfortable in the pocket, Milroe can read zone defenses to find open targets and has the zip to thread the needle for contested catches.

Weaknesses​

A cannon arm and elite speed are great, but quarterback’s make their coin on delivering the football to pass-catching options. This is where Milroe’s biggest struggle lies: Accuracy.

His throws can end up all over the place as his ball placement is erratic on both shorth and intermediate throws. This forces his targets to adjust to the ball in flight which can limit both receptions and yards after catch (YAC) opportunities.

Milroe’s lack of anticipation on routes compound accuracy issues and the absence of diverse delivery — touch and feathering the ball to targets, more specifically are back breaking areas of opportunity.

Disruption is the name of the game for NFL defenses and Milroe struggles in processing and decision-making in both a noisy and clean pocket.

His initial hand-size measurement at the Senior Bowl of 8 3⁄4 inches was troubling, but at the NFL Combine, Milroe’s hand measured 9 3/8 inches. Smaller hand size generally results in issues handling and gripping the football in inclement weather.

“No matter what it is, I’m capable of doing it.”@AlabamaFTBL QB Jalen Milroe joined Path to the Draft to discuss his readiness for the NFL pic.twitter.com/0HALyu3tFE

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 1, 2025​

Projection​

Where prognosticators predict Milroe will go are as scattershot as his passes are. Projections have him going in the late first to second and even third rounds.

Las Vegas owns the 37th overall pick in the second round and 68th overall selection in the third stanza. Those to spots may be where the Raiders eye the Alabama quarterback. NFL Draft Analyst Chad Reuter mocked Milroe to Las Vegas with the 68th pick in his four-round mock draft, for example. Reuter predicts the Raiders to take Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall; Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos at 37, and Kentucky linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson with the 108th pick in that mock.

Milroe's ideal situation features a creative play caller who’ll build around his strengths, while also having the patience to develop him into a refined passer. That does sound like Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. And while Greg Olson flamed out as a play caller, he’s a respected quarterbacks coach that can guide Milroe through the process.

No matter where Milroe goes, he’ll need development and refinement as a passer. But with that, the Texas native arrives to the pros with the potential to be one of the most dynamic and dangerous runners at the quarterback position from the jump.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/5/24398135/raiders-draft-2025-jalen-milroe-quarterback

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Raiders reportedly releasing Jack Jones

Jack Jones | Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

Young cornerback will head to waivers

Jack Jones was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders because of Antonio Pierce.

Pierce, of course, is no longer part of the Raiders’ organization and now apparently, neither will Jones.

NFL Media reported Sunday morning that Las Vegas will release the young starting cornerback. The move will likely become official Monday afternoon.

The #Raiders are releasing CB Jack Jones, sources say, after Las Vegas attempted to trade him. An intriguing option for a CB-needy team. pic.twitter.com/KciN550fPz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2025​

Earlier Sunday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the Raiders were trying to trade Jones before a release. But, now, it appears he will had to waivers. The Raiders were hoping that a team would emerge and trade for Jones to keep him from the waiver process. Technically, that can still happen before Monday.

Either way, though, it seems like Jones is out the door in Las Vegas.

The Raiders claimed Jones off waivers in November, 2023 when the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick gave up on him midway through his second NFL season. The Patriots drafted Jones, 27, in the fourth round in 2022.

It made sense that the Raiders would claim Jones in 2023. Pierce coached Jones in both high school in Long Bach, California and at Arizona State.

Jones had his moments in 2023, but struggled in 2024. He has ball skills (he had three Pick 6s in 24 games with the Raiders) but he was inconsistent, Jones started 16 games in 2024.

Clearly, the new regime, which starts its offseason workout program Tuesday, aren’t fans of Jones even though cornerback is a position of need. The Raiders will likely choose between newly signed Eric Stokes, Jakorian Bennett and Decamarion Richardson as the outside cornerbacks. They could also address the position in the draft and free agency.

Rasul Douglas, Stephon Gilmore, Asante Samuel and Mike Hilton are among the free-agent cornerbacks available.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/6/24402533/raiders-news-jack-jones-released-cornerback

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Your thoughts on Jack Jones’ release?

Jack Jones | Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

How you feeling about it?

Sunday, in a somewhat unexpected weekend move, the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly decided to release young starting cornerback Jack Jones, according to NFL Media.

The #Raiders are releasing CB Jack Jones, sources say, after Las Vegas attempted to trade him. An intriguing option for a CB-needy team. pic.twitter.com/KciN550fPz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2025​

The move will likely become official Monday afternoon. Earlier Sunday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the Raiders were trying to trade Jones before a release. But, now, it appears he will had to waivers. The Raiders were hoping that a team would emerge and trade for Jones to keep him from the waiver process. Technically, that can still happen before Monday.

The Raiders claimed Jones off waivers in November, 2023 when the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick gave up on him midway through his second NFL season. The Patriots drafted Jones, 27, in the fourth round in 2022.

Jones had his moments in 2023, but struggled in 2024. He has ball skills (he had three Pick 6s in 24 games with the Raiders) but he was inconsistent, Jones started 16 games in 2024.

Jones is being cut despite the Raiders having a need at the position. The Raiders will likely choose between newly signed Eric Stokes, Jakorian Bennett and Decamarion Richardson as the outside cornerbacks. They could also address the position in the draft and free agency.

How do you feel about the decision to cut a starter at this position? Sign up and go to the comments section.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/6/24402590/raiders-news-jack-jones-release-cornerback

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Film room: Could Chris Paul Jr. be coverage LB Raiders need?

Chris Paul Jr. | Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

Diving into what the Ole Miss linebacker could bring to Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Raiders could afford to add a coverage linebacker in the 2025 NFL Draft, which should put Ole Miss’ Chris Paul Jr. on the Raiders’ radar.

Paul finished last season as Pro Football Focus’ second-highest graded SEC linebacker in coverage with a mark of 78.1. A big reason for that is he recorded the fourth-most ‘defensive stops’ (19) while missing just two tackles against the passing game. Also, he forced an incompletion on 12 percent of his targets, tied for the most PBUs with four and came down with one interception.

Those numbers are worth diving into the tape, so let’s take a look at what the former Rebel could bring to Las Vegas.

Chris Paul Jr. with good eyes and a nice close in zone coverage to set up 3rd down #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/oONjjtMG82

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) April 2, 2025​

Part of the reason Paul made so many quality tackles in coverage last season is that he has good eyes in zone coverage.

Ole Miss is in Cover 4 here where he’s the curl-to-flat defender on the wide side of the field. Post-snap, he shows good eye discipline by peaking at the receivers to see if a threat is coming into his area. He notices the short curl route by the outside receiver and starts working wide while getting his eyes back on the quarterback.

Once the ball is out, Paul closes on the receiver, makes a strong open-field tackle to prevent any yards after the catch and gives the defense a chance to get off the field on third down.

Granted, he could have trusted himself more by eliminating the hesitation at the hash mark to give himself a chance to get a PBU. But regardless, this is a nice close in coverage to put the team in a good situation.

Chris Paul Jr. with a great close to get a TFL on 3rd down #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/QOdZQNgDB1

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) April 2, 2025​

Here we’ll get another example of the former Rebel’s instincts and ability to close in coverage to set up a third-down situation for the defense.

It’s second and short and Oklahoma tries to get tricky by faking the halfback screen to the left while having a wide receiver work across the formation into the flat. It’s a pretty good play call as Ole Miss vacates that side of the field with the bracket coverage on the single receiver at the top of the screen.

However, Paul isn’t fooled and sniffs out the play design. Then, he takes a great angle, shows off some speed to close on the receiver and comes up with a TFL, setting up a third and medium situation. Had it not been for him, this would have easily been a first down and maybe more as the wideout had plenty of open grass to work with.

Chris Paul Jr. vs Mason Taylor, Paul comes up with the PBU #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/bbIuJmGAe4

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) April 2, 2025​

As referenced above, Paul had impressive ball production for a linebacker last season, and this rep highlights one of his four PBUs.

He’s in man coverage against Mason Taylor, who is one of the top tight end prospects in this year’s draft class. Taylor runs a wheel route where he switch releases with the outside receiver to try and create a natural pick.

However, Paul takes a step forward to avoid the pick and get his hands on Taylor. Combined with his speed, that allows the linebacker to stay in the tight end’s hip pocket against the vertical route, which is perfect coverage given help over the top. At the catch point, Paul does an excellent job of getting his hands up as soon as Taylor goes up to make the grab to get a piece of the ball and force the incompletion.

This is also a good example of the linebacker’s athleticism in man coverage.

Chris Paul Jr. climbing the ladder to get a piece of this ball #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/gHS2XImHdK

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) April 2, 2025​

In addition to another athletic play to help break up a pass, we’ll see another example of good eyes in zone coverage from Paul on this rep.

The Rebels rush three and drop eight defenders in this Cover 3 look. Initially, Paul protects against a slant or short drag route by opening his hips and eyeing the third receiver on the wide side of the field. Once the receiver releases past him, he passes the receiver off to the safety, gets his eyes on the quarterback and continues to work for depth.

As a result, the linebacker is in the passing lane against the dig route behind him and in position to make a play on the ball. That’s where his 36-inch vertical that earned an 8.41 RAS at the combine comes into play as he gets a piece of the ball to help force the incompletion.

Nice job of slipping the block from Chris Paul Jr. to make this tackle against the screen #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/BLX1f9Vrvk

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) April 2, 2025​

This next rep is technically in coverage since Oklahoma calls a screen, but the Ole Miss product can slip blocks against offensive linemen working up to the second level which will translate against the run.

He has a good shoulder dip move and comes to balance after making the lineman miss to transition from moving vertically to horizontally. That allows him to come flat down the 42-yard line or take a good angle to make this tackle.

Good example of Chris Paul Jr.'s athleticism as a run defender #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/fIBsMOAWZz

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) April 2, 2025​

Finally, while Paul has short arms (29⅞” at the combine) and needs to add size and strength (222 pounds) to be more stout when taking on blocks, he can use his athleticism to be an effective run defender.

The Sooners try to use some deception here with the direct snap to the running back while the quarterback works wide to help set up the counter run to the other side of the formation. Meanwhile, the Rebels slant the defensive line weak while the linebackers move toward the strong side.

So, Paul initially steps to the left to cover the strong side A-gap. However, he recognizes the play design, sticks his inside foot in the ground and redirects to the right, showing off some impressive change of direction skills and agility.

To finish, he has the speed to beat the puller across the puller’s face and make the tackle for a short gain while showcasing some impressive range against the run.

---

Again, Paul has some work to do to become a complete linebacker in the NFL, most notably spending some time in the weight room. But his coverage skills and athleticism are worth betting on if the Raiders are looking for a linebacker who can impact the passing game immediately and grow as a run defender down the line.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com...chris-paul-ole-miss-linebacker-film-breakdown

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

SB Nation mock draft: Defensive line bolstered with Mason Graham

Mason Graham | Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Bypassing need and going with the ‘best player available’ approach in the first round for the second year in a row

With the sixth overall pick in the 2025 SB Nation mock NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Mason Graham, defensive tackle, Michigan.

Cam Ward (Titans), Travis Hunter (Browns), Abdul Carter (Giants), Armand Membou (Patriots) and Will Campbell (Jaguars) were off the board, and the temptation to address a need with Shedeur Sanders or Ashton Jeanty was there. But Graham is just too good of a talent to pass up on, much like taking Brock Bowers last season.

Coincidentally, Graham’s game compares similarly to Christian Wilkins. So, there is a bit of a question about how those two can be on the field together since they’re both 3-technique defensive tackles.

However, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham had the Raiders in a lot of odd fronts last season, meaning the rookie and Wilkins can line up as 4i- or 5-techniques on opposite sides of the defensive line.

With Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce on the edges, and Graham and Wilkins on the interior, all Las Vegas’ defensive line would need is a nose tackle to be complete. That would also give the team one of the best d-lines and pass-rushes in the NFL to help the young secondary out.

SB Nation’s Michael Peterson, who covers the Los Angeles Chargers for Bolts From the Blue, also weighed in on the Raiders’ selection.

“The Raiders really luck out here with Graham dropping to them at No. 6. Similarly to last year’s draft, the board falls perfectly for them to land a blue-chip prospect outside of the top five,” Peterson wrote. “Graham will slide in next to Christian Wilkins along the interior, with both Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce on the edge. That’s immediately one of the best defensive lines in the AFC West.

“Graham’s explosive first step to teleport into the backfield will only make life easier for Crosby, who just signed one of the most-lucrative contracts in NFL history for a non-QB. If I’m Crosby, and the Raiders are on the clock here, I’d personally write Graham’s name on the card and sprint it up myself.

“The Raiders could have easily taken Jeanty or [Tetairoa] McMillan to pair with new quarterback Geno Smith, but the chance to really lean into the disruptiveness of their front seven was too good to pass up. They’ll look to solidify their offense in later rounds, specifically the offensive line and wide receiver rooms.”

Peterson and I are in agreement here that this was the Silver and Black’s best option with how the board fell. But what are your thoughts? How would you grade the selection?

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/7/24400762/raiders-mock-draft-mason-graham-michigan

 

[Las Vegas Raiders]

Longshot Look: Brandon Smith’s athleticism sets him apart at linebacker

Linebacker Brandon Smith has the athleticism and size to make a go of landing a roster spot with the Las Vegas Raiders. | Caean Couto-Imagn Images

Penn State product is fast and has good size to make a go of landing a roster spot

On pure athleticism alone, Brandon Smith is a standout.

Running a fast 4.52-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, the Penn State linebacker also posted a 1.59 second 10-yard split, 37.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump.

Those testing results along with an 81-tackle, two-sack 2021 campaign for the Nittany Lions resulted in the Carolina Panthers trading up to snag the 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Smith in the fourth round with the 120th overall pick in the 2022 draft.

But being big and fast can get you only so far.

And Smith’s had a winding road that eventually led to the Las Vegas Raiders this past December.

Hey @Panthers, y'all are getting an absolute BEAST in @Brand0n_Smith12 #KeepPounding#WeAre | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/AwvJuJe7rH

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) May 2, 2022​

Smith spent his rookie year relegated to special teams work as he compiled 8 total tackles in 12 games and then his career took abrupt turns. He was waived in late August by the Panthers and picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles in October. He saw minimal special teams work in Philly before being waived again and landing with the New York Jets in September of 2024 for a few days. He got hurt, put on injured reserve and then released.

And that’s how Smith arrived with the Silver & Black: A practice squad addition. When the regular season ended for Las Vegas, Smith became a reserve/future signing in early January. And, at just 23 years old (24 on April 12), still is young and athletic to merit an offseason look.

As we’ve reached the dog days of free agency and are counting down the days until the 2025 draft, the Raiders depth at linebacker remains a question mark. The team lost 2024 starters Robert Spillane (middle linebacker) and Divine Deablo (outside) in free agency but did bring in veterans Elandon Roberts and Devin White to help fill the void.

There are a bevy of youngsters in the room, too: 2024 draft pick Tommy Eichenberg (24 years old), 2023 pick Amari Burney (24); undrafted free agent (UDFA) Amari Gainer (24); UDFA Jackson Mitchell (24), (UDFA) Kana’i Mauga (25), and Smith.

We have signed WR Shedrick Jackson and LB Brandon Smith to the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/ajtOGQdRoX

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 4, 2024​

Roberts and White have the leg-up in terms of experience and snaps in the NFL, but it’d be wise for head coach Pete Carroll and his coaching staff to have wide open competition for starting nods, backup duties, and special teams roles.

The latter is where Smith can truly carve out his niche.

At his size and speed, the Penn State product has the qualities special teams coordinators seek on coverage units. But the competition for even snaps on Tom McMahon’s units is going to be an uphill fight.

This past season, the trio of Burney, Gainer, and Eichenberg were special teams mainstays with Mauga joining that fray, too. Burney paced the group with 384 special teams snaps with Gainer and Eichenberg earning 380 and 313 snaps, respectively. Mauga notched 251 snaps on special teams.

With the departures in the middle and the outside, Burney, Gainer, and Eichenberg can get into the competition mix for starting nods with Roberts and White — and any other rookie (drafted or undrafted) the Raiders add as the offseason further progresses. And if they can’t earn bigger roles, special teams is there waiting for them.

40 Brandon Smith plays with urgency. Gets to the ballcarrier in a bad mood. Big fan of some of his early tape. pic.twitter.com/Qkx7wnHO30

— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) August 27, 2022​

Despite having prototypical size and blazing speed for an inside linebacker, Smith hasn’t been able to put it together to be a mainstay on defense. He didn’t really put it altogether at Penn State either despite having elite athletic numbers. Smith flashed more than he was consistent and despite having absurd athleticism, his football IQ didn’t match leading to hesitation and the lack of recognition of plays.

What helps Smith in Las Vegas, though, linebackers coach John Glenn and Carroll have a history of developing linebackers in the NFL and if there’s a duo that can get the best out of a linebacker that hasn’t found his way, it’s those two.

If Smith can become more adept at using his size and speed to be a coverage maven on special teams, the Raiders have a moldable defender who is young enough to continue to develop as an overall linebacker.

But if Smith can’t become at least a special teams mainstay with tutelage from Glenn, Carroll, and the rest of the Raiders coaching staff, he’s not long for the pro game.

And camp fodder/practice squad lifer it’ll be.

Source: https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/4/8/24398148/raiders-roster-2025-brandon-smith-linebacker