It might not have always looked like Raiders GM John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll knew what they were doing ahead, but by just about every account, the Raiders turned in one of the more encouraging drafts they have executed in a long time.
It’s too early to know if the 2025 draft is going to be remembered as a great one for the Raiders, but Spytek’s first draft in Las Vegas at least filled roster needs without reaching for picks – which is not something that has always been the case with the Raiders.
Yahoo and FOX Sports host Jason Fitz talked the draft on Thursday and hit he on that dynamic with the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore.
“After the draft, the way my phone blows up gives me a good sense of what we got [and] what we didn’t get. And the sense after this one was… this is a really smart, calculated draft,” Fitz said on Raider Nation Radio’s Morning Tailgate.
“It’s rare that you can get a draft that feels like you were able to accomplish need and best player available. And I think the team did that over and over and over again… there’s so much excitement to what this is and the opportunity to see, particularly, I think the first three rounds get on the field is going to be a big, big deal.”
In the days following the draft, we learned some of the tactics Spytek used to throw off opposing teams on the Raiders’ draft interests.
According to an ESPN report, the Raiders intentionally didn’t allow for any pre-draft connections to Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott, who they were able to draft at the end of the sixth round.
Additionally, the story about Spytek’s son lobbying for Ashton Jeanty was true, and was reportedly shared with the purpose of misleading teams on who the Raiders wanted with the no. 6 pick.
We know at least one Bay Area beat writer took the bait prior to the draft and it’s possible a few teams did, as well.
But according to NFL draft analyst Todd McShay, there was another maneuver by Spytek in the hours leading up to the draft that might have thrown off teams trying to figure out what the Raiders were going to do with the no. 6 pick.
Based on comments from McShay on his podcast last week, the rumors around the Raiders’ interest in Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. can probably be filed into the category of ‘fake news.’
As a refresher, Banks was never linked to Las Vegas at pick 6 until the Tuesday evening before the draft.
It was a surprise to see Banks brought up with so much enthusiasm, but there are times when good information gets out at the last minute. Years ago, a CBS report linked Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden to the Raiders on the morning of the draft and not many bought into the report until the Raiders drafted him.
McShay was one of the first to issue a mock draft with Banks going to Vegas and a handful of mock drafts followed suit in the two days leading up to the draft.
By Thursday night, Banks was being mocked to the Raiders as often as Jeanty and by some of the NFL’s most respected draft insiders.
Even after the draft, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur said he believed the Raiders would have drafted Banks if Jeanty had not been on the board.
But reading between the lines on McShay’s comments last week, it sounds like Spytek might have leaked bad information on Banks at the eleventh hour.
“I want to give a lot of credit, first of all for the espionage, for getting out the late leak that it was going to be Banks [with the no. 6 pick]. John Spytek, I see you,” McShay said on The McShay Show.
We might never know what Spytek would have done with the no. 6 pick if Jeanty wasn’t there, but according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, Geogia linebacker Jalon Walker might have been the pick.
“Had Jeanty not been there… and Mason Graham and Will Campbell, I think the Raiders would have pulled the trigger on Jalon Walker easily. Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “I know the Raiders loved him. Had they traded back, let’s say they had gone to nine or 12, I would not have been stunned if Omarion Hampton was a Raider.”
“They loved him,” Carpenter continued on Hampton. “They liked Jeanty more, but it was negligible, very close. They loved Omarion Hampton.”
x: @raidersbeat
Fantastic job gentlemen. I think we have a bunch of good players. Looks like there maybe some nice add ons in the UFA. Love the acquisition of the 6’6 350 lb rugby player from Brisbane Australia. Scary Dude.