Tag: Las Vegas Raiders

Mel Kiper Jr. gives Raiders ‘B’ for 2024 draft haul

Mel Kiper Jr. gives Raiders ‘B’ for 2024 draft haul

The NFL Draft has wrapped up, and that means it’s time for draft grades! Usually, draft grades are pretty meaningless, as they are just repackaged draft analyses.

However, there are a few NFL Draft experts who believe in the process more than the actual picks, and that’s how they give out grades. That’s always been the case for Mel Kiper Jr., who gave the Raiders a “B” for their 2024 draft haul.

Here is what the long-time ESPN draft analyst had to say about the draft class for the Raiders:

So what did the Raiders do instead? They took an “offensive entity” in Brock Bowers (13), who will be a nice complement to Michael Mayer at tight end. I have him No. 7 overall in my rankings, and he’s going to make plays for whoever is taking snaps under center.

You can question whether the Raiders should have targeted a cornerback instead, but Bowers is a great prospect, so I’m not going to downgrade their choice. Jackson Powers-Johnson (44) should be an immediate starter at guard. I wasn’t as high on him as a lot of other people — I didn’t think he should be a first-rounder — but this is a good spot for him.

Picking the best player available in Round 1 is never a bad strategy and that is what the Raiders did at No. 13. Did they need Brock Bowers? No. But he is a dynamic player that will instantly bring more juice to the offense. If he hits, this draft class will be considered a success.

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Broncos beat 3 teams (including the Raiders) to sign Jaylon Allen

The Broncos beat three other teams (including the Raiders) to sign Memphis pass rusher Jaylon Allen as an undrafted free agent.

As soon as the NFL draft ends, teams begin filling out their 90-man offseason rosters by signing undrafted free agents. The top prospects draw offers from multiple teams, sometimes causing college free agent bidding wars.

So far, the Broncos have agreed to terms with 13 UDFAs, including Memphis edge defender Jaylon Allen. Denver was not the only team interested.

Allen told the Denver Post‘s Ryan McFadden that he turned down offers from the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders. In college, Allen worked with assistant strength and conditioning coach Sammy Joseph, the younger brother of Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

That connection probably played a role in Denver beating out three other teams — including a division rival — to land Allen.

Allen was a defensive end for the Tigers but he will likely transition to outside linebacker in the Broncos’ base 3-4 defense. He totaled 12 sacks in his final three seasons at Memphis.

We are tracking all of Denver’s UDFA signings on Broncos Wire.

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Raiders projected starting lineup after 2024 NFL Draft

With the Draft class plugged in, here is the Raiders projected starting lineup

There is a lot to be sorted out between now and the start of the season. The Raiders don’t even know how some of the competitions will play out between incumbents and newcomers. But based on what we know now, and who is currently on the roster, we can certainly make some projections.

(Newcomers in bold)

Offense

QB Gardner Minshew
RB Zamir White
WR Davante Adams
WR Jakobi Meyers
TE Brock Bowers
TE2 Michael Mayer
LT Kolton Miller
LG Dylan Parham
C Andre James
RG Jackson Powers-Johnson
RT Thayer Munford

Notes: Their top two picks — Brock Bowers and Jackson Powers-Johnson — should take on starting roles right away. While third round pick DJ Glaze will compete with Thayer Munford for the starting right tackle job and sixth round RB Dylan Laube will figure to do most of his work on special teams early on.

Minshew and second-year QB Aidan O’Connell will battle for the starting QB job, but Minshew is more seasoned and proven, so I would put him as the Day one starter.

Defense

DT Christian Wilkins
DT John Jenkins
ED Maxx Crosby
ED Malcolm Koonce
LB Robert Spillane
LB Divine Deablo
CB Jack Jones
CB Brandon Facyson
SCB Nate Hobbs
SS Marcus Epps
FS Tre’von Moehrig

Notes: No defensive players from this year’s class currently projected to be immediate starters. First off, they didn’t select their first defender until Day 3 when they took raw cornerback Decamerion Richdardson. He has all the physical tools, which will help him on special teams for now, but otherwise he’s a development prospect.

Special teams is the way for all the Raiders’ Day three picks. The others are LB Tommy Eichenberg, S Trey Taylor, and CB MJ Devonshire.

Ramel Keyton signs with Raiders

Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton signs with the Raiders.

The 2024 NFL draft was held Thursday-Saturday around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.

Former Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton was not selected in the seven-round draft. He signed as an undrafted free agent with Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-3, 197-pound wide receiver appeared in 55 games, including 24 starts, from 2019-23 at Tennessee. He recorded 86 receptions for 1,456 yards and 11 touchdowns. Keyton averaged 16.9 yards per reception.

He recorded a season-high for receiving yards (642), receptions (35) and receiving touchdowns (six) during his Tennessee career in 2023. The former Vol totaled 122 receiving yards on Nov. 25, 2023 against Vanderbilt.

Keyton went to Tennessee from Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia.

Raiders 7th round S Trey Taylor says he brings ‘killer on the field’ instinct from Air Force academy to NFL

Raiders 7th round S Trey Taylor says he brings ‘killer on the field’ instinct from Air Force academy to NFL

With the draft in it’s final round, the Raiders were looking to add some intangibles to their team. To get it, they snapped up Trey Taylor out of the Air Force Academy.

In talking with Taylor after the draft, there was no question he has a good head on his shoulders and it serves him on the football field.

“The ability to serve while playing football and while studying at one of the most prestigious schools in America, like you can’t really pass up that opportunity,” said Taylor. “So, I’m glad I landed there. And the Academy taught me a lot about myself. It taught me a lot about who I really am, the maturity I have as a person, taught me how to grow, how to spread my wings and made me the person I am today.”

Taylor won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top safety. And he did so in part by being a big hitter. Evidenced by his 205 tackles over three seasons for the Falcons. That’s the energy the Raiders want him to bring with him.

“I’m a killer on the field,” Taylor added. “I have a different instinct when I get on the field and I brought that from the Academy, and I’m hoping to bring it onto this team. And I feel like there’s a lot of people who have the same mentality on that team. So, definitely ready to go take on that identity.”

That energy will help him right away on special teams as well. As a Navy man, I can get past him choosing Air Force for school.

Introducing Raiders 2024 Draft class

Introducing Raiders 2024 Draft class

The draft has come to a close and there are eight new Raiders in the house. This is the Raiders Draft class of 2024.

1. (13) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
2. (44) Jackson Powers-Johnson, G/C, Oregon
3. (77) DJ Glaze, T, Maryland
4. (112) Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi St
5. (148) Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio St
6. (208) Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
7a. (223) Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
7b. (229) MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh

The Raiders made no trades up or down, preferring to stick at their original draft spots for their eight selections.

While they went all offense on days one and two, they went almost all defense on Day three. According to Tom Telesco, that wasn’t intentional, but just how the day played out.

What was intentional was getting guys who could play on special teams because that will be many of the late round guys’ ticket to making the team.

The one glaring need position they did not address was quarterback. Telesco said they were thinking about adding a QB on day one, but after the top six guys went before they picked at 13, they didn’t consider taking one the rest of the draft.

Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg joins the Raiders

Tommy Eichenberg joins the Raiders #GoBucks

With the No. 148 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders took Tommy Eichenberg, a linebacker from Ohio State. Eichenberg could not have landed at a better spot due to his aggressive downhill playing style, he is a perfect fit for Las Vegas and its defensive mindset.

Eichenberg is primed to grow into a starting middle linebacker in this Raiders defense and it is honestly a bit shocking an NFL team didn’t take a chance on the dominating Big Ten linebacker earlier.

Eichenberg’s old-school mentality and playing style is fits the culture of the Raiders very well and I am sure all Buckeye fans are excited to see what’s next in his career. The last linebackers from Ohio State to be selected in the NFL draft were Peter Werner and Baron Browning in 2021, so this pick ends a bit of a dry spell, and given how successful those two players have been perhaps its a good sign.

Raiders go defensive back with final picks in seventh round of 2024 NFL Draft

Raiders go defensive back with their final two picks of the Draft

With two picks in the seventh round at 223 and 229 overall, the Raiders added competition to their secondary with the selections of Air Force safety Trey Taylor and Pittsburgh cornerback MJ Devonshire.

Taylor won the Jim Thorpe Award this past season as the best safety in college football. He joins Tre’von Moehrig as Raiders players who won the coveted award.

Devonshire was a second-team All ACC performer last season in his second season as a starter for the Panthers.

Raiders select New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube at pick No. 208

Raiders select New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube at pick No. 208

The Las Vegas Raiders have made their sixth selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, picking New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube at No. 208. Laube is one of the best-receiving backs in this class, with over 100 receptions in the last two years.

Laube measured just under 5-10, 206 pounds and ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He’s not a powerful inside runner, but he can be effective on third down. Laube scored 33 touchdowns over the last two seasons and is one of the most productive running backs in the class.

The Raiders used their first three selections on offense, adding Brock Bowers, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Delmar Glaze. But on Day 3 of the draft, they’ve managed to add more defenders. However, Laube changes that here in the sixth round as the Raiders find a passing back to pair with Zamir White.

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Raiders select Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg at pick No. 148

Raiders select Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg at pick No. 148

The Las Vegas Raiders have made their fifth choice in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg at pick No. 148. The Raiders needed linebacker depth with Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo both entering the final year of their deals.

Eichenberg started 27 games in the Big Ten and was a second-team All-American selection in 2023 with 80 tackles. His athleticism is only okay, but he is a rugged linebacker who makes his money between the tackles.

Eichenberg will compete for the No. 3 linebacker job in 2024 and could eventually take over for Spillane in 2025. At this stage of the draft, this was an excellent value by Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce.

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