Silver And Black Pride
Top picks Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech are obvious, but don’t sleep on Darien Porter and Dont’e Thornton Jr.
By wheeling and dealing, general manager John Spytek amassed 11 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft this past weekend allowing the Las Vegas Raiders to add young talent to the roster.
Looking at the draft class as a whole, and it’s difficult to ignore the Silver & Black seemingly turning back the clock.
Spytek, head coach Pete Carroll, and the rest of the Raiders decision makers went back to an old-school well with the time-tested Al Davis route as some of the selections are the size, speed, length physical specimens the legendary owner preferred during his reign as the decision maker.
Las Vegas’ first selection — Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty — at No. 6 overall set the tone for the rest of the three-day affair. That was followed by a bruiser of a wide receiver in TCU’s Jack Bech at No. 58. And from that point on, it was athlete after athlete that can ad much needed speed, agility, and competitiveness to a Raiders roster that needs all of it as Spytek and Carroll head into their inaugural season as the new regime.
Las Vegas even doubled up on the offensive line, defensive tackle, and quarterback (albeit one is likely going to be a do-it-all athlete) during Day 2 and 3 of the draft.
Thus, let’s take a look at prospects who are Day 1 contributors or have the potential to earn snaps this coming 2025 season. Caveat here: Jeanty and Bech are obvious. But don’t sleep on third-round pick Darien Porter and fourth-round choice Dont’e Thornton.
Let’s go:
At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, and 33 1/8-inch arms, this Cyclones defensive back has an 80-inch wingspan and 4.30-flat speed, showcasing the traits Davis would’ve loved. Carroll certainly loves them too, and so will special teams coordinator Tom McMahon.
Hence, McMahon’s Mavens.
Porter is a developing cornerback but has the size, speed, and length to be a disruptive cover man, but he’s a special teams truther, too. He blocked five kicks (four punts) during his tenure at Iowa State, loves playing on coverage units, and with this measurements, has potential to be an elite gunner and block man on McMahon’s group.
Punter AJ Cole III is elite and will only get better if Porter is sprinting down the field during his the boots.
The easiest way on to a 53-man roster is standing out on special teams and Porter has the mindset and skillset to be a valuable special teamer and cornerback.
During the post-draft press conference, Raiders director of college scouting Brand Yeargan shared owner Mark Davis joked this selection was the Al Davis pick of this draft. Height, weight, speed, raw traits, certainly fit the Big Al bill.
The 6-foot-5 and 205-pound...
