The closer we get to Thursday evening, the draft takes around the Raiders are getting stronger in certain corners of the online rumor mills.
After weeks of projecting Ashton Jeanty to the desert, draft analyst Todd McShay has made a strong shift on what he thinks the Raiders will do with the no. 6 pick in the draft.
”Jacksonville is not drafting Mason Graham and I’m told the Raiders are not taking Ashton Jeanty at six,” McShay said on The McShay Show.
“After talking with some people in the league over the weekend, I no longer expect Jeanty to be the pick at 6,” McShay added in his Monday mail bag. “Don’t be surprised if the Raiders start a run on edge rushers at 6, with Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams the most obvious fits. Many teams have Walker higher on their board, but my gut tells me Pete Carroll could bet on traits and take Williams here.”
The sixth pick might be a little early for Williams, but if the Jaguars pass on Graham, the Michigan defensive tackle is a pick that would make a lot of sense in Las Vegas. Williams reportedly had a sub-par pro day at Georgia, and he would be an interesting candidate for the Raiders if they trade down in the first round.
As for Jeanty, there have been rumors that he could be drafted by the Jaguars with the fifth pick, but he doesn’t seem to think that scenario is a strong possibility.
On PFT Live this week, Jeanty was asked by Mike Florio about the highest and lowest spots in the draft that he could be taken, and his answer was interesting.
“I think the earliest that I will go is no. 6. That’s my belief and that would be the Raiders at that pick or somebody else trading up to get in front of them possibly. I think that’s what’s going to happen,” Jeanty said.
Jeanty added that the lowest spot he could see himself being draft is no. 12 to the Dallas Cowboys.
For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Las Vegas is a preferred destination for Jeanty.
“I’m hearing that Jeanty is in play for the Raiders among a few options,” Fowler said on ESPN’s NFL Live on Sunday. “They’re also looking at offensive tackle, potentially, but there’s some momentum around the Raiders and Jeanty. I’m told that Jeanty would love to play for the Raiders. They are atop his wish list as far as what the player wants. We’ll see what the team wants.”
x: @raidersbeat
Another stupid story.
Lack of interest? What? Why did they send a delegation to Boise Idaho? To look at real estate? Why did they have AJ down to the Henderson facility for a private workout. Where do you get this BS info from mcshay? Find another career .