As organized team activities continue this month for the Raiders, all eyes will be on the 11 rookies drafted last month by first-year GM John Spytek.
Like any rookie class, there’s uncertainty around this year’s group in Las Vegas, but it feels like there is more optimism around the 2025 class than previous years.
From first-round pick Ashton Jeanty to a couple of relatively high-profile picks on the last day of the draft, there is a good chance this year’s draft will produce more impact players than previous drafts.
Jeanty is, of course, the player that everyone is talking about, but former TCU wide receiver Jack Bech also created some buzz in the month of May.
According to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, Bech has been “consistently open” during practices, burning cornerbacks on several deep routes that “would’ve been touchdowns.”
“[Bech] was consistently open on Friday,” Reed reported from practice earlier this month. “His best plays came toward the end of practice when he hauled in several deep balls during 11-on-11 drills that would’ve been touchdowns. We don’t know whether he’ll spend most of his time outside or in the slot, but he’ll be a day-one starter if he keeps up this pace.”
Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter has been adding to the hype around Bech and it sounds like the first-year wideout is on the track to have a significant role in the Raiders’ offensive in his first NFL season.
“They had a first grade round grade on him,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “I know several teams did. No one thought he would be available in the second round. Not a snowball’s chance in Vegas in the summer.”
“When he fell to the Raiders in the second round, they were shouting hallelujahs like an evangelical choir. I mean, they were excited upstairs in the Intermountain [Healthcare] building. There was a lot of excitement. They stole him. Completely stole that kid.”
There does seem to be some expectation that the Raiders will add a veteran wide receiver between now and the start of training camp, but to this point Spytek has been patient at the position.
Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper are notable veteran wide receivers that haven’t been signed, but there are other familiar names out there to keep an eye one as training camp gets closer.
x: @raidersbeat
Squeak squeak squeak
Does anyone need a reminder from last years squeaker regarding the two rookie corners dominating camp? One is out of the NFL and the other was kept on the field to get targeted and roasted play after play instead of going with Sammy Web. The best corner we have that never got a fair shot. I get it. He’s not very smart. But he can ball out.
Webb got burned all the time man! I seen that in game after game. I’m not putting too much stock into OTA’s but I’m hoping the kid balls out for The Raiders! It starts with him believing in his ability! Coach Carroll and Kelly will teach him the rest.
You’re full of shitp. He never even got a chance to play all the time Einstein. Quit talking about your pants.
Sign your contract Rookie, you will have time to prove yourself. That is why we have a collective bargaining. So we don’t pay people 50 million before walking on the field … aka Jamarcus bust!!!! 🤮
And still Jeanty is the second highest paid RB in the league without even stepping on the field.
That’s very wrong in so many ways.
1. Maybe the corners aren’t doing very well
2. His contact holdup is his agents fault
3. If the Raiders were so locked in on him, then why did they trade back… twice.
I’m glad they got him but lets not at like he was a players the Raiders went out of their way for. He fell and they swooped. It was smart to trade back but just luck that he was there.