HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders basic supervisor John Spytek did not need to discuss particular prospects throughout Friday’s predraft information convention. That features Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who has been linked to the group all through the draft course of.
Nevertheless, Spytek made it clear that he is a powerful believer in taking a operating again excessive within the draft.
“I imply we simply noticed Saquon Barkley simply change the Eagles in a single 12 months,” Spytek stated throughout Friday’s predraft information convention. “…There’s sure methods to construct a workforce, and I do not know the place we bought to a spot the place we do not really feel like operating backs are valued.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
“I come from the College of Michigan, and people guys have been actually actually valued there. So, it is laborious for me to get away from that.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Raiders drafting Jeanty sixth total in his mock draft. The Heisman Trophy finalist had a “good formal” go to with the Raiders on the mix. Spytek was at Boise State’s professional day and introduced Jeanty to Las Vegas for a top-30 go to.
Spytek and coach Pete Carroll are on the identical web page in making the run sport an integral a part of the offense. Jeanty, who rushed for two,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024, can present a direct enhance to the Raiders’ offense, which completed final in dashing yards per sport at 79.8.
Exterior of operating again, Spytek stated the workforce stays “open-minded” in relation to drafting a quarterback.
“You guys have all executed your investigative journalism effectively sufficient to know that we introduced some quarterbacks in. And that wasn’t accidentally,” Spytek stated. “We stay open to a very powerful place in sports activities to get proper.”
The place will not be as massive of a necessity for the group after buying and selling for Geno Smith and signing the previous Seahawks starter to a two-year, $75 million extension that may be value as much as $85.5 million and consists of $66.5 million in assured cash, a supply advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
On the identical time, Smith does not have any assured cash after 2026, and that might doubtlessly open the door for the Raiders including a rookie quarterback to develop.
The Raiders have executed their due diligence in evaluating quarterbacks throughout the draft course of. This week, Las Vegas hosted Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders for a top-30 go to. They’ve additionally met with different quarterback prospects equivalent to Quinn Ewers, Jaxson Dart and Will Howard.
“If you happen to begin forcing gamers since you want them, you find yourself regretting that. And you can also’t have sufficient good gamers in sure positions, too,” Spytek stated. “Generally what does not really feel like a necessity proper now turns into a necessity after one or two accidents throughout the season, and you then’re grateful you took this actually good participant.”
