The Las Vegas Raiders sought to fix several issues through the draft, and they managed to do so.
Sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty is set to lead the charge to a hopefully revived Raiders running game, and the receiver room was given much needed depth with three rookies (Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tommy Mellott). The trenches were also given much-needed depth on both sides of the ball (Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant for the offensive line, Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues for the defensive line), while Darien Porter could quickly rise up the ranks of the Raiders secondary. The team still has some questions that they can address with post-draft free agents, but general manager John Spytek deserves credit for sticking with his plan of attack and not stretching anything out too thin.
Analysts near-unanimously praised the Raiders’ draft, and one now says the class can make an impact as early as this year.
The Raiders should expect big things from this group of talented rookies.
According to CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso, the Raiders are the likeliest team to receive an immediate impact from their draft class.
“Jeanty is lightning in a bottle at running back, Bech already possesses the fine details of the receiver position many NFL veterans don’t have, and Rogers played 4,300-plus snaps at four different positions at Texas Tech,” wrote Trapasso.
“Thornton doesn’t have to be high volume; he can erupt downfield for a few snags per contest with 4.30 speed at nearly 6-foot-5. Porter may actually take some time to mature into what he can fully become in the NFL, yet his length, athleticism and receiver-like ball skills will allow him to generate some splash plays for the defense in Year 1. Hemingway was a tremendous add in Round 4 [sic], given his long-standing productivity on the inside in the SEC.”
Jeanty is expected to be the most impactful of the group, and should be in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year all season long.
Bech is likely to be another immediate starter for the Raiders, sliding in as the big slot receiver, while Thornton could get some added looks if the team does not add another receiver and Tre Tucker does not take the next step in his third season. Rogers, Grant, Hemingway and Pegues all add meaningful depth to areas where availability could be a concern, while Porter is a classic Pete Carroll defensive back who could impress early on in his development.
The results do not need to show right away, but Spytek’s first draft looks like an excellent starting point for the Raiders to make some noise in a loaded AFC West.
Insider lists two players potentially higher than Ashton Jeanty on Raiders big board
