The Raiders missed out on Matthew Stafford last week, but the draft is still looming large, and the long-term future of the organization can ideally be found among the rookies in this year’s draft class.
There is reason to believe Cam Ward is the quarterback at the top of the Raiders draft board and the team’s flagship radio station has a host lobbying for “whatever it takes” to get Shedeur Sanders.
Jaxson Dart is considered by most to be the no. 2 or no. 3 quarterback prospect in the draft, but it was another quarterback that was mentioned by name on Saturday as one that stood out to the Raiders and other teams at the NFL Combine.
“We heard that Jalen Milroe did really well as far as interviews go and being on the board, telling about how to reads things, pre and post snap reads. I think he’s the guy who really stood out, not just with the Raiders, but also other teams from what I heard this week,” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur said on the Just Win podcast.
“We’ve talked in the past about him being a guy who it’s going to take a while… I think he may have the highest ceiling, but it might take a while to get there. He’s a guy who can run the ball and has, the throwing is not great at this point, but he has made some throws and I just think that in terms of the leadership and the stuff on the field and in the helmet, it looks like it was a good week for [Milroe] this week so far.”
Milroe should be on the board when the Raiders are on the clock with their second-round pick, but it’s hard to imagine they would take Milroe over Ohio State quarterback Will Howard now that Chip Kelly is in the building.
Howard’s draft stock has skyrocketed since winning the National Championship and although his draft trajectory isn’t the same as J.J. McCarthy’s a year ago, there are definite similarities.
Three months ago, Howard was considered by many to be a late-round prospect, and he might be in the range of a second or third-round pick as of today.
Milroe might not be as “NFL ready” as Howard, but his ceiling is as high as any quarterback in the draft. If the Alabama quarterback impressed the Raiders in interviews, he could definitely be someone to watch when the Raiders are on the clock in the second round.
x: @raidersbeat
I was surprised that Eisen, etc., were not talking about Milroe. I thought he looked terrific. His throws were on target, had the right zip, and he could do all the throws. His footwork looked good too, and he seemed very focused and mature. If he’s in the 2nd round, I would jump on him.
Milroe is not a better qb than jaxson dart
Hands are too small
Misinformation and rhetoric.
Vic is the biggest BSer in the media. He just makes stuff up
That’s a big NO on Milroe!
Agreed.
Milroe does NOT have a nfl caliber arm. He struggles throwing with any accuracy or touch in college. Don’t waste a draft pick or time. Jaxson Dart is the way to go for the Raiders IMO