According to an ESPN report in April, the Raiders reportedly went to great lengths ahead of the draft to conceal their interest in Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott, and when they landed him in the sixth round, the Julian Edelman comparisons were quick to follow.
Like the Patriots did with Edelman, the Raiders’ plan was to move Mellott to wide receiver and that’s what they have done in the three months since the draft.
Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t sound like Mellott has stood out in offseason activities or training camp.
Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter talked about Mellott over the weekend, and it sounds like the Raiders’ rookie wideout has an uphill battle to make the final roster.
“Understand that he is an FCS player switching positions. This is normal for a rookie,” Carpenter said of Mellott. “But he has yet to flash on any particular play, and for a guy who has a chance to make this roster, albeit a long shot, as a specialist, it is concerning that he has not yet flashed.”
Later, Hondo talked more about Mellott on his podcast.
“I have not yet seen anything from him, a flash… That doesn’t not mean he’s performing poorly. But if you’re going to make the 53-man roster, you have to flash at camp when you’re coming in where he was picked, and jumping from the FCS level,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“The preseason games is where he’ll absolutely get that chance to do it and I understand that. So I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s just concerning because that’s a kid I know that they had hoped would have made the 53 as a specialist,” Carpenter continued. “Not panicking, not in any way trashing the kid. The effort is there. It’s just a huge leap, but if he’s going to make your [final roster] at this point, I think you have to say it’s concerning.”
According to draft insider Tony Pauline, who was the first to report on Christian Wilkins’ foot problems in April, there weren’t many teams interested in Mellott leading up to the draft.
“[Mellott] was a surprise selection, as few teams had a draftable grade on him,” Pauline reported in May.
Safe to say, there weren’t many teams with a draftable grade on Edelman, either, as he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round 2009 NFL Draft.
Edelman was in the league for four years before his NFL career took off, so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that Mellott hasn’t set the world on fire in the first week of his first NFL training camp.
x: @raidersbeat
Be patient the Tommy Touchdown machine will show up. Bet on it!
Stash him on the practice squad for now.
Imagine that, a 6th rounder that should’ve only been at best a priority UNFA isn’t excelling with a position change. One of many terrible value draft selections from Pete via Spytek. I’ll go out on a limb and predict Tommy will make the 53 due to draft status not merit.