The Raiders’ Geno Smith acquisition and extension all but certainly takes them out of the QB mix at No. 6 overall. But they are still being mentioned as a team interested in addressing the position later.
Jalen Milroe came up as a Raiders target early in the pre-draft process, and now that a Smith extension is worked out, a long runway could be in place for a player deemed a raw prospect with a high ceiling. The Raiders remain on the Milroe radar, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. An early-second-round selection could be how Milroe’s draft process ends, though some execs informed Fowler the athletic Alabama option could land as a late-first-round choice.
That would require a trade-up from the Raiders, and we have certainly heard plenty about trade-ups for passers in this year’s draft. A frenzy could develop after the Browns and Giants — as they are expected to — choose Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter at Nos. 2 and 3. The Saints and Steelers have joined those teams as those doing extensive work on QBs, but the Rams, Raiders and Dolphins join them in being candidates to add one. Based on the volume — in a draft that has brought tremendous scrutiny on its non-Cam Ward options — multiple teams will be left out of this draft’s second tier at the position.
The Raiders, however, are still interested in Texas’ Quinn Ewers as well. Connected to the Texas starter earlier this offseason, Las Vegas has also done work on national championship-winning Ohio State QB Will Howard, Fowler adds. But they are higher on Ewers than Howard, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. slots Howard 105th and Ewers 111th in this class. By opting for this tier of QB, the Raiders could aim higher with their earlier-round choices, as they attempt to help a now-Smith-centered roster.
A Milroe move would obviously negate an Ewers investment, but either would be unlikely to seriously threaten Smith’s job security in 2025. Smith’s team-friendly contract gives the Raiders time to evaluate QBs, as this could be a multi-draft project. The Raiders having acquired Smith rather than take their chances with these free agency and draft crops is rather telling, as it would certainly be interesting to see them make that move and then dive back into Round 1 for Milroe. The Raiders’ second-round pick checks in at No. 37 overall.
At No. 6, the team has been closely tied to Ashton Jeanty. Smokescreen season notwithstanding, it would be rather surprising if Jeanty made it past Vegas at 6. The Jaguars have now been connected to choosing the Heisman runner-up at 5, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds some strong cases for an O-line add have been made within the organization. We heard recently the Raiders would target an O-lineman at No. 6, but that appeared contingent on Jeanty being off the board. Russini’s assessment points to the team considering going O-line over the ex-Boise State dynamo.
If the Raiders are to go O-line at No. 6, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur offers that the team is believed to like Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. more than Mizzou’s Armand Membou. Seeing a wide gap form between the SEC blockers’ prospect values, Banks looks to gained steam as the draft nears. The prospect of Ewers’ LT going in the top 10 appears in play, as Banks has also been connected to the Jets at 7. Membou would not stand to fall too far if Banks goes ahead of him, even with some teams viewing the college RT as a guard going forward.
The Raiders’ QB plans may well impact Aidan O’Connell. Closing both his two NFL seasons as the Raiders’ starter, the former fourth-round pick has come up as a trade candidate during this year’s draft, per Russini. The Raiders pitted O’Connell in a competition with Gardner Minshew last year, and while the younger passer lost, he was frequently called upon as Antonio Pierce benched Minshew. The latter’s season-ending injury moved O’Connell back into a starter role. He is 7-10 as a starter in two seasons, which is fairly impressive considering the rosters the Raiders trotted out in that time.
Two years remain on O’Connell’s rookie contract. The Raiders moving O’Connell would likely come after they have added another backup option, as only 2024 UDFA Carter Bradley is rostered beyond Smith at the position.
They should keep AOC as their backup period. He did a good job considering the team he was on and you won’t get much of a return for him at this point. Draft Jeanty first if possible and then build your lines and defense, add another WR in the draft and/or sign Lockett. Not that hard.
Agreed. Even if they draft a qb, backup qb is an important position. If you’re drafting a “project” that needs 2-3 years, don’t decide in April to automatically put them in a position to be one play away from starting at the most important position in sports. Carry 3 or flip him in the preseason if he actually gets beat out for the back up.
There isn’t an OL in this class I’d spend the 6th pick on. Take Jeanty if he’s available, don’t overthink it. The OL can easily be addressed later, and I don’t think there is a huge drop-off in talent there.
I don’t know. I think there’s a very realistic chance the top eight offensive linemen are off the board before their second pick. They also desperately need a corner. Six might be rich for either position, but six is always rich for a running back, and there will be starting caliber running back prospects available for their second and third pick.
A lot of analysts have Jeanty ranked as the third best prospect in this draft. I agree. Personally, that’s all I go by; I don’t much care what position a guy plays. I’d have no problem with a RB at #1, if the talent warranted it.
Jeanty is special. If they pass on him, they’re going to regret it for the next ten years. I’m not saying they couldn’t find a capable RB, but he won’t be as explosive as Jeanty.
If they miss out on the top OL, it is what it is. It isn’t as if the OL is in complete shambles. There should be quality corners available in the 2nd round.
Jeanty at 6 becomes an immediate top 15 paid RB before playing a single professional snap. I have no doubt he’ll be good, but the value of the premium positions that also need to be addressed vs him needing to be good to justify that cost already is fascinating to consider.
Yeah, the part where he can only be a bargain contract if he’s a healthy star is a consideration. Positional value matters. A good number two receiver makes more than any running back in football–and they rarely hit free agency in their prime. A good number two corner makes more than all but two running backs in the league. The fact that good running backs can come from all over the draft also matters (other positions obviously do too, but not nearly as often as good starting running backs). There’s also the heightened risk that comes with a running back who’s been worked really hard in college.
I think he’s a great prospect, but I wouldn’t touch him before *maybe* the Bears, and even then, I’d probably rather let someone else do it than take a running back in the top half of the first round. The recent history is not good.
As much as I want Jeanty, this class is loaded at the position. Trade down with Chicago hopefully get 1 of their second rounders.
At 10 go Johnson/Barron or an OT.
Then get your Rb in the second round.
For my Silver & Black Raiders any of these three: RB Jeanty, DT Mason or OT Membou (I guess OT Banks now too) would be a great Raider pick for the Pete Carroll Spytek Tom Shady era start.
*And if I had to choose between Mason Graham vs. OT I go DT Graham and finally make the Raiders D-line a potentially stacked Starter & Depth Rotation if #1 Maxx, Koonce, Wilkins all get stay health, #2 Tyree Wilson improves in crucial Year 3 – Crosby, Wilkins, Graham, Koonce, Wilson and Butler in subpackages roto could be really good EVERY DOWN run/rush impact that only helps the Back 7.
I know why the McZiegler front office didn’t take Jalen Carter like 10 other teams in 2023 Draft, so Mason can be what Jalen DT pick could have been if not for Henry Ruggs debacle which 100% led to Raiderd passing on Carter, as did then Seattle’s HC Carroll taking CB DeVon Witherspoon.
*BUT if they do not land Jeanty I REALLY want Spytek & Pete to LEAPFROG THE CHEFS! Move back into the low 1st and grab TreVeyon Henderson as Chip Kelly knows his gamebreaker speed AND pass blocking abilities are top tier, then maybe grab a cheap banger RB to pair with Henderson like Cam Skattebo or Kyle Monongai later on Day 2 or 3 of the draft.
Unless Judkins falls to Round 3 or 4 then Spytek & Carroll can give Chip Kelly both of the OSU RB Duo, and bring them to Raider Nation Nu-Offense Overhaul.