Silver And Black Pride
Thayer Munford Jr., Dalton Wager and others need strong showing as Las Vegas adds two talented prospects in back-to-back picks
Do you remember the PeopleMover ride at Disneyland?
I’m likely aging myself with that one, but that was a transport attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. It was in operation from 1967 to 1995 and was used as an inter-park public transport that rode on tracks above the theme park, moving park goers from one place to another.
What does this have to do with the Las Vegas Raiders you ask?
General manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll were well-aware of the team’s roster needs heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. And the top two decision makers in Las Vegas doubled down on a group of need: The offensive line.
By selecting Texas Tech’s Caleb Rogers with the 98th overall pick and William & Mary’s Charles Grant with the 99th selection, the Raiders landed two people movers of their own with back-to-back choices in the third round of the draft.
Being taken right after one another isn’t the only similarity between Rogers and Grant. Both have similar measurables at 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds (Rogers) and 6-foot-4 and 311 pounds (Grant). And both spent the vast majority of their productive collegiate careers at offensive tackle.
But as Carroll noted in the post-draft press conference, Rogers is slated to start his NFL career inside at guard while Grant is expected to remain at tackle at the next level. Rogers did dabble on the interior with the Red Raiders and he’s slated to do so with the Raiders in Las Vegas.
“I’m comfortable with all five positions,” Rogers said during his post-draft media session. “Like I said, I want to be somebody that the team can rely on at every single position ... whether they put me at center, they put me at guard. I mean, I’ve played everything. Center, I haven’t played in game, but I’ve got a lot of reps at it. ... I’m extremely excited to get out there and just be whoever they need me to be.”
The newly selected offensive linemen do provide requisite strength to hang at the pro level and offer the plus athleticism and movement skills that appear to be a necessity in the new scheme offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is installing in Las Vegas.
“I would describe my play style as fast, relentless, aggressive, versatile,” Rogers said in his post-draft press conference. “I mean, I know they’re bringing me in to hopefully play some interior, but I also want to be able to be some guy that they can have on the edge if they need it.”
Grant, who provided a quick and crushing presence for small-school William & Mary, does have a background in wrestling and is eager to see if that skillset and mental fortitude gained in that regard parlays itself into NFL success.
“There’s obstacles I’ve had to overcome in wrestling,” Grant noted in...
