It’s finally draft day and in the next 72 hours we’re going to be able to separate some of the fact from fiction around the Raiders and every other team around the league.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at 10 last-minute draft nuggets and rumors that could affect the Raiders as we move into one of the biggest extended weekends on the NFL calendar.
Raiders “too open” with their Ashton Jeanty infatuation?
NFL insider Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team has the Raiders taking Missouri OT Armand Membou with the no. 6 pick.
He believes the Raiders have been a little suspicious with their reported interest in Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty…
“The Raiders have bigger needs and have been almost too open about their love for Jeanty. I think they want a team to trade ahead of them and take Jeanty. Also, Spytek came from Tampa — they drafted Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and found Sean Tucker undrafted. They know how to find backs.”
Speaking of Membou, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur thinks the Raiders prefer Texas OL Kelvin Banks Jr. over Membou, who had become a popular pick to the Raiders before the Wednesday morning.
Ashton Jeanty to be drafted ahead of the Raiders?
Remember when the no. 6 pick was too early to draft a running back?
All of a sudden, it sounds like Jeanty isn’t even going to make it to the Raiders with the sixth pick. Many believe the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to take him with the no. 5 pick.
Former GM Mike Tannenbaum said on Wednesday he thinks the Raiders should trade up for Jeanty.
Be watchful for Jacksonville to do something wild in the draft ahead of the Raiders
Yes, Jeanty might be the pick, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter and others have talked about something big coming from the Jaguars with the fifth pick.
The latest from Todd McShay makes you wonder…
“In the past 24 hours, multiple league sources have reached out to me wondering whether new GM James Gladstone is actually trying to move up, not down. I don’t have much info outside of that, but I find it interesting that I’ve been approached with that question by two different people. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Jags have been eyeing a move up to 2, and I think he may be on to something…”
McShay added that he thinks the Jaguars could be going after Travis Hunter in hopes of plugging him into their lineup on the offensive side of the ball…
“Let’s play out the football logic. If Jacksonville is after an offensive skill guy to help get Trevor Lawrence back on track under first-year head coach Liam Coen, the only player who fits the bill in a move-up scenario is Colorado’s Travis Hunter. I haven’t gotten the sense that the Browns are looking to move out of no. 2, but I’d be curious how much it would take to wrestle that pick away.”
So maybe don’t rule out Jeanty being on the board with the Raiders pick, after all.
Who would the Raiders consider trading up for?
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Raiders have looked into trading up from the no. 6 pick for a particular player.
“The Jaguars (5) and Raiders (6) have expressed interest in moving up, I’m told, if the player they want is available. In fact, I was told the Jaguars are hoping to keep this draft “electric” with the first-year tandem of head coach Liam Coen and GM James Gladstone, and an offensive player is on their radar. Jacksonville is also open to moving out for the right trade offer.”
Colorado’s Travis Hunter and/or Penn State’s Abdul Carter make the most sense to be that player.
Offensive line seems to be a priority for the Raiders in this year’s draft.
This isn’t new information, but it sounds like the strongest push right now within the Raiders is to take an offensive lineman.
“The Raiders, led by first-time general manager John Spytek, spent substantial time doing homework on Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, but strong cases are being made in their draft room to go offensive line instead.” – Russini
All the mock rage in the last 24 hours is around Kelvin Banks Jr. to the Raiders at pick 6
Todd McShay looked like an outlier when he mocked Banks to the Raiders on Wednesday morning, but a half dozen mock drafts since have followed suit.
“Banks has been one of my favorite prospects throughout the process and has a lot of the traits you’d want from a high pick. He is experienced (42 career starts), has very good footwork and power, is only 21 years old and plays a premium position. Current Raiders starting left tackle Kolton Miller is entering the final year of his contract, and teams can never have enough quality offensive linemen. I’ve also heard Jeanty’s name here, but he’s off the board at No. 5 in this mock draft.” – Field Yates, ESPN
“Jeanty is off the board in this scenario, and new Raiders general manager John Spytek values the trenches on both sides of the ball. Mason Graham could be in play here, especially with Christian Wilkins coming off injury, but I keep hearing offensive line for Las Vegas — either Banks or Armand Membou.” – Dane Brugler, The Athletic
“Multiple sources told me the Raiders could go offensive line here despite being heavily connected to Jeanty and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. With Kolton Miller not locked up long-term, Banks would be the answer at left tackle.” – Matt Miller, ESPN, who also mocked Banks to the Raiders
Shedeur Sanders might be looking at a major slide in the draft
Shedeur seems to have sabotaged himself in some of his interviews at the combine and McShay believes the Colorado quarterback could slip into the second round.
“A few months ago, the idea that Shedeur Sanders could fall out of the top 10 seemed inconceivable. But with just a few hours until the draft kicks off in Green Bay, league sources I’ve spoken to are expecting him to slide. I’m told that even Sanders’s camp is prepared for him to not come off the board in the top 20 picks…
I’m still hearing people say they wouldn’t rule out the Giants at no. 3, but I’m told New York will not be drafting him there. In fact, I’ve heard from two different sources that his visit with head coach Brian Daboll did not go particularly well. The friction centered on some frustration between the two regarding Sanders’s preparation of an install package.”
If the Steelers don’t take Shedeur, things could get really interesting for the Sanders family.
“If Sanders does get past the Steelers at 21, I expect him to be on the board when Round 2 commences on Friday.”
What about Jalon Walker to the Raiders?
Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer shared a story on Walker that makes the Georgia linebacker sound like exactly the kind of player the Raiders could use to fill one of their major voids on defense.
“A lot of teams ask players, If you could take one teammate with you to the pros, who would it be? It’s a good way for scouts and coaches to cross-check players, and also get a feel for who the most respected guys are. In the bigger programs putting more prospects in the pros, a team might get a variety of answers, based on positions or sides of the ball.
So this was pretty wild: One executive told me every single Georgia player they sat down with answered that Walker was the player they’d take to the pros with them.”
The Chicago Bears could come calling for the Raiders’ no. 6 pick
This would be a dream scenario for the Raiders as they can probably get a player like a lot with Chicago’s no. 10 pick.
More on that below.
Las Vegas insiders not buying report around Christian Wilkins’ lingering foot injury
According to league insider Tony Pauline, the Raiders still have some level of concern with Wilkins’ foot injury he suffered at the start of the 2024 season.
“The state of the Raiders offensive line would seem to dictate Membou as the pick, yet I’m told there is serious concern over a foot injury Christian Wilkins has been dealing with since last season,” Pauline reported on Wednesday.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore, among others, have said they haven’t heard anything about Wilkins’ foot injury being an issue.
At the very least, Wilkins doesn’t look to be injured in recent photos.
The Raiders would like to trade back, report says
The aforementioned Bonsignore is reporting the Raiders would like to find a trade partner for the no. 6 pick…
“The Raiders are exploring trade-down scenarios in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft, according to league sources. “They would like to trade back,” a team executive said of the Raiders, who have the sixth pick.
That jibes with recent speculation linking the Raiders to multiple prospects, including Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron and Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.
The conclusion is the Raiders have a comfort level with a cluster of five to six players, but aren’t madly in love with any of them.”
The draft gets underway on Thursday night at 8:00 PM EST.
x: @raidersbeat
Go get Mike Green dammit!
Just read a report that Coach Biden likes Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker.
These two guys have bust written all over them. It’s going to be Tyree Wilson all.o er again.
These guys had 5 sacks last year. What makes them elite or special in any way? Barely over 20 QB pressures each. There isn’t a thing good about these guys.
This is why we are consistently the dumbest franchise in the league no matter who the GM is.
The best edge prospect in this draft will be there at 6 for us and that is Mike Green not these two clowns coach Biden wants.
Do the right thing for once and go get Green!
Mr. preemptively NEGATIVE strikes again! How about you wait for, gee I don’t know, the actual pick before you start dumping on coach “Biden”?
Well said Mike. Hey Philly Raider put down the Pabst blue ribbon and lucky charms fool.🤡