Silver And Black Pride
Nice work, Las Vegas
With the Las Vegas Raiders’ draft picks in the books, here are some early thoughts:
A perfect AP pick
Fifth-round pick Tommy Eichenberg seems like the type of player Raiders’ coach Antonio Pierce always pounds the table for: A love-the-game guy who works hard and wants to be great.
The linebacker from Ohio State has limitations, but he’s a baller who is super productive. After being drafted, Eichenberg said he can’t wait to learn from Pierce, a former limited linebacker who carved out a successful playing career. Eichenberg said he is a “perfect’ fit for the Raiders and there is nothing else in life that he likes to do other than play football. this will be a fun fit.
No trades:
General manager Tom Telesco did not execute any trades in his first draft with the Raiders. He used all of his eight picks. Telesco in his 12th year as an NFL GM, has never traded down in the draft in his career.
Stroud love:
Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud is a student of the game he loves the Brock Bowers’ selection for the Raiders. Check this out:
Travis Kelce comparisons? The Raiders will take that.
And check out this nugget from ESPN.
The commitment to the position is real, but Bowers was too good to pass up. They’ll make the Bowers-Mayer pairing work.
New RB:
The Raiders made an intriguing pick in the sixth round in the form of small-school running back and special teams stud Dylan Laube of New Hamphire. He was a big playmaker. Laube, who said he models his game after Christian McCaffrey, projects as a third-down back and a kick returner in the NFL. He could add some juice to the offense. Maybe he’s Telesco’s new Austin Ekeler down the road? He was the compensation in the Neil Farrell trade with the Chiefs.
Munford time?
Third-year offensive lineman Thayer Munford will likely be the favorite to start at right tackle after the Raiders didn’t take a player who is capable of competing right away. Munford has played well when he has been given the chance and the Raiders seem comfortable with him playing.
Brady watch?
Because the Raiders’ didn’t draft a quarterback (Telesco said they only considered taking one on Thursday) who has a legitimate chance to start soon, the Tom Brady monster will hover. Brady recently said he’s not “opposed” to returning at some point and mentioned the Raiders as a possibility. He is on his way to becoming a part owner of the team, so if the urge is there on both sides, we can’t discount it. Don’t hold you’re breathe, but this storyline still looms.
Big corner:
Raiders’ general manager Tom Telesco broke the seal on defensive players at No. 112 in the fourth round by taking Mississippi State cornerback Decamerion Richardson. He is a typical Telesco cornerback as he is big at 6-2, 188 pounds and he runs a 4.3 40. He is raw, though, and...
