Las Vegas Raiders 2025 NFL Draft Analysis: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, Best and Worst Picks
Ehhhhhhh, I guess Ashton Jeanty is a good call, but didn't we already do this? Was 2019 that long ago?The Raiders took Josh Jacobs with the fourth overall pick six years ago, and four Super Bowls later ... nope. He was fantastic, but the team couldn't do much with him.Sure, Pete Carroll rode Marshawn Lynch to greatness up in Seattle, but the Legion of Boom defense and rise of Russell Wilson were the main reasons for the success. Long-winded thing short - too late - you don't take a running back early. There's just no need.The Raiders should've used one of their 11 picks on one of the sliding quarterbacks - Cam Miller of North Dakota State doesn't really count. (I'm a Shedeur guy, and if anyone could deal with that reality show fiasco, it's Carroll.)And it's Pete Carroll, and it's a draft, which means value doesn't matter, and you pick lots and lots of guys and hope for the strength-in-numbers approach to work.
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Las Vegas Raiders 2025 Draft Class
1 (6) Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State2 (58) Jack Bech, WR TCU3 (68) Darien Porter, CB Iowa State3 (98) Caleb Rogers, OG Texas Tech3 (99) Charles Grant, OT William & Mary4 (108) Dont'e Thorton, WR Tennessee4 (135) Tonka Hemingway, DT South Carolina6 (180) JJ Pegues, DT Ole Miss6 (213) Tommy Mellott, WR Montana State6 (215) Cam Miller, QB North Dakota State7 (222) Cody Lindenberg, LB MinnesotaWhat Went Right?The Raiders loaded up with lots of bodies, and getting seven of the top 135 picks helped. They took a slew of super-strong college players who will all come in with different chips on their shoulders. Under Carroll, where you were drafted really and truly doesn't matter.
What Went Wrong?Again, NO value.With the exception of Jeanty - again, you don't take a running back early - just about everyone the Raiders took could've been had at least ten slots later, and in a few case, two rounds later.
Best Value Pick: Cody Lindenberg, LB MinnesotaBiggest Reach: Dont'e Thornton, WR TennesseeDraft Grade: B-2023 Ranking: 31 | 2024 Ranking: 31
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USA Today
20 minutes ago
- USA Today
Nine second-year NFL players who need to step up after rough rookie seasons
Nine second-year NFL players who need to step up after rough rookie seasons Show Caption Hide Caption Ashton Jeanty talks all things Las Vegas Raiders and his hopes in the NFL Ashton Jeanty spoke with USA TODAY Sports about his upcoming rookie season with the Raiders and his partnership with Sharpie. Sports Seriously Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. An NFL player's rookie season can set a course for his professional career, but Year 2 is hardly too late to blaze a new path. Even with the likes of Jayden Daniels and Brock Bowers flourish almost immediately, instantaneous success can be difficult to come by in the NFL for first-year players. Many of the most accomplished draft picks spend their inaugural campaigns getting up to speed with their playbooks and adjusting to a higher level of competition, leaving them ill-equipped to showcase their full skill set. But a horde of the 2024 NFL Draft class is now learning how vital the first full offseason as part of a team can be, as there's ample time to adjust after slipping up or receiving limited opportunities. Here are nine second-year players who need to step up this fall after rough rookie seasons: Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears What's left to say about one of the most tumultuous starts in some time for a historically hyped passer? With Ben Johnson coming aboard as head coach and play caller and the interior offensive line reconstructed with proven veterans, the No. 1 pick looked poised to leave last season fully behind him. But details released from the forthcoming book by ESPN's Seth Wickersham, who reported Williams and his father sought to find a way to avoid the Bears, served as a reminder just how hard it will be for both the quarterback and the organization to shake the past. The controversy hasn't killed the good vibes of a Bears offseason that was nothing short of transformative. With Johnson calling the shots, Williams will have someone who not only can drill down on the finer points of quarterback play and schematic concerns but also a figure who wants to turn the attack loose. That mentality should jell well with that of the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, whose preternatural sense for igniting big plays was often canceled out by the wider ineptitude of the league's last-ranked offense. Questions remain about how Williams will embrace playing on schedule and within structure given how rhythmic Johnson's prolific offenses for the Detroit Lions were. But after taking a league-worst 68 sacks last season, Williams should be eager to minimize punishment in the early going by taking advantage of quick hits and boosting his league-low checkdown rate of 7.1%, according to Pro Football Focus. And with massive improvements in protection as well as the expected strides that the rejuvenated receiving corps should make, support shouldn't be a pressing question anymore. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals By any measure, a rookie season that entailed 885 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches can hardly be considered a failure. But Harrison has been dealing with outsized expectations his entire life, and in a year that was shaped by the breakout performances of fellow first-year receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison didn't clear the sky-high bar that accompanied him into the NFL as the No. 4 pick. After Harrison had a stunningly quiet introduction into the NFL with one catch on three targets, Kyler Murray frequently seemed to force the issue with his new standout pass catcher. The result: Harrison hauled in just 62 of his 116 targets, with the off-kilter chemistry between Murray and the Ohio State product requiring further work. Noticeably bulked up this offseason, Harrison might already be better positioned to handle the contested catch scenarios that became all too routine in 2024. But fostering a better connection with Murray would go a long way toward unlocking all the possibilities that Harrison's superlative route-running can open up for the offense. Static usage also weighed down Harrison's impact, and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing should be under pressure to be more creative in his deployment of the receiver so as to spark more opportunities in space. Darius Robinson, DE, Cardinals When Robinson was selected with the No. 27 overall pick, it was widely understood that the 6-5, 285-pounder would take time to translate his considerable physical tools into consistent production. But after a strong start in training camp, he suffered a calf injury in August that would sideline him for all but the last six games of the season. With his mother dying in October, Robinson later called it "the hardest year of my life." A busy Cardinals offseason brought a robust investment in the defense, with Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell and first-rounder Walter Nolen III all coming aboard to boost Jonathan Gannon's pass rush. But Robinson's forcefulness should remain a vital asset for the front given that the defense ranked 28th in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric and was middling against the run. The arrival of Campbell could prove to be a particular boon to Robinson's development. The six-time Pro Bowler learned how to get the most out of his massive frame (6-8, 307 pounds), and his tutelage should help Robinson develop a better pass rush plan and more comfort using counters. Tyler Guyton, OT, Dallas Cowboys A rough transition to the professional level seemed inevitable for Guyton, a 6-8, 322-pound former H-back who offered an enticing package of athleticism but lacked the refinement to engender much trust as a rookie as he flipped from right tackle to the left side. The No. 29 overall pick started 11 games for the Cowboys and proved to be a weak link for the line, committing 18 penalties while struggling mightily against in both pass protection and run blocking. "I'm not going to make any excuses," Guyton said last week. "I just didn't play as good as I needed to last year. I'm coming with a different attitude this year to become last week a better player." His commitment has drawn the attention of Dallas' new coaching staff, with head coach Brian Schottenheimer saying Guyton has had a "terrific" offseason so far. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who helped the Cardinals build a punishing identity up front despite underwhelming overall talent, should be a major asset for a player behind the curve on positional knowhow. Crafty edge rushers still could pose a problem – and there are plenty waiting on the Cowboys' schedule – but the arrow is decidedly pointed in the right direction for Guyton's trajectory heading into training camp. Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers In the lead-up to his year's draft, Dave Canales repeatedly backed Legette despite the No. 32 overall pick having his rookie season largely defined by his seven drops, including one that doomed the Panthers' push for a December upset of the Philadelphia Eagles. Then, Carolina took wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 overall pick in April. Within a year, a player who once looked central to Bryce Young's development now appeared to be shunted to the side. Canales, however, isn't taking that view point even with McMillan aboard. "I think, you know, with T-Mac coming into the room, again, it's just options," Canales said in May, according to the Panthers' site. "It opens things up, and it creates a little bit of balance where the field doesn't tilt one way or the other. So you have two guys who can make it happen outside, and that's a good thing." The connection between Young – who was benched in Week 2 but resumed his starting spot after filling in for an injured Andy Dalton later in the season – and Legette was clearly off throughout the 2024 campaign, with the receiver hauling in just 49 of his team-leading 84 targets. Legette didn't play a leading role in the blossoming of the downfield passing attack later in the year, as the pass catcher never had more than 60 yards in a game after Week 3. Meanwhile, undrafted free agent Jalen Coker cleared that bar four times for the Panthers last fall. Between the arrival of McMillan and the emergence of Coker, Legette looks unlikely to operate as the true No. 1 receiver some might have hoped he would become, with a downtick in his targe share likely in order his season. But the 6-3, 227-pounder remains an imposing matchup as a vertical threat, and a more robust receiving corps should allow Young to attack defenses in a more complete manner after plenty of challenges to start his career. Ultimately, the Year 2 outcome might hinge on whether his back-to-basics offseason work on catching with his hands rather than his body helps Legette secure the big plays that fell through his fingertips last season. Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, New England Patriots The arrival of a new coaching staff after can often spell trouble for young players coming off a disappointing season, with the new regime typically not placing much weight on previous investments of draft capital. While the hiring of Mike Vrabel could produce a necessary reset, Polk should be on alert as he tries to prove himself after a woeful professional debut. The No. 37 pick in last year's draft posted just 12 receptions for 87 yards on 33 targets in 2024. Adding to the sting: The Patriots could have grabbed Ladd McConkey, who led the Los Angeles Chargers with 1,149 last season, but instead traded back three spots and nabbed Polk. With New England adding Stefon Diggs and third-rounder Kyle Williams to the receiving corps, it hardly seems as though the team is content to bide its time for a player who still has so far to go to provide a meaningful boost to Drake Maye. Maybe the hire of Josh McDaniels and a more streamlined offense will point Polk toward greater contributions this fall. With Maye gaining more confidence and the unit better equipped to attack downfield, the 6-1, 205-pound receiver might have more opportunities to leverage his skills operating in contested-catch scenarios. But given his first impression – and how the team responded – a turnaround is far from a guarantee. Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts Freeing himself from coverage has never been a problem for Mitchell. The 6-2, 205-pound target routinely snapped off quick changes of direction to shake cornerbacks or merely raced past them, with his 91 open score in ESPN's receiver metrics tying him for ninth in the league with Tyreek Hill and Zay Flowers. Capitalizing on those opportunities was another matter entirely. The second-round pick from Texas brought in just 23 of his 55 targets for 312 yards. Much of that could be traced back to Anthony Richardson, who completed just 47.7% of his passes last year and repeatedly overthrow Mitchell when the receiver was in prime position deep downfield. But some of the on-field problems that prompted his surprising tumble to Day 2 of the draft – including inconsistent precision and urgency – flared up once again. "(He's) just young," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said after the season. "... Like any young player, there's going to be a maturation process with him. And he has some definitely really strong moments, but we need more consistent moments from him." For Mitchell, however, any path toward reaching those moments isn't very clear at this point. While the Colts primarily used Mitchell as a deep threat, Alec Pierce averaged a league-best 22.3 yards per reception in 2024 in that capacity and could be a candidate for an extension. Indianapolis also returns two other receivers who eclipsed 800 receiving yards last season in Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, and the offense will also be breaking in first-round tight end Tyler Warren. Unless an injury opens up an avenue for more playing time, a successful season might simply constitute sharpening his skills and earning more trust. Kingsley Suamataia, G, Kansas City Chiefs There are few jobs within the NFL more difficult for a 21-year-old rookie to take on than serving as Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector. Nevertheless, Suamataia was pushed into the spot just months after being taken as a second-round draft pick out of BYU. Things unraveled almost immediately, with the Chiefs pulling the rookie lineman late in a Week 2 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he surrendered two sacks and was flagged twice for holding the league's eventual sack king in Trey Hendrickson. But his resurfacing with a start at offensive guard in the regular-season finale might have been the shift necessary to get his pro career back on track. 'We moved him there for that second Denver game, so I mentioned that was one of the positives – the only positive that came out of that game – but I thought he did a nice job there, so we're moving him in there," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said in late May. "Listen, (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) runs a million different looks, so this is the best thing for him, to get in there and have a bunch of things thrown at him, and he's doing a nice job so far.' With Kansas City having traded Joe Thuney to the Bears, Suamataia now has a chance to seize the starting left guard spot if he can beat out Mike Caliendo, who took over when Thuney kicked out to left tackle late in the season. Working on the interior might help accentuate Suamataia's strengths and leave him less vulnerable in obvious passing situations, as his tendency to overset to compensate for recovery shortcomings created abundant issues when dealing with edge rushers. Jermaine Burton, WR, Cincinnati Bengals Third-rounders typically don't need to worry about their standing after just one year, even in the most trying circumstances. But while the Bengals didn't cut ties with Burton despite the receiver's disappointing rookie year culminating with him being left at home for the regular-season finale, it's clear massive changes are needed for a course correction. 'Nobody should be happy with it,' Burton said last week when asked about the benching. 'I was very disappointed, but it's something that I moved on from, and grew from, and can't wait, looking forward, really looking forward to this year.' With Andrei Iosivas having solidified his standing as the No. 3 receiver behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins while Mike Gesicki returns at tight end, any substantial offensive contributions are likely out of reach for Burton in the near future. What matters now is not just getting in coaches' good graces but staying there. While a spot as a backup should be secure given the Bengals' inaction in bringing in any outside competition this offseason, Burton is one of the few players who might stand to benefit from establishing a pattern of overall reliability rather than the flash plays he's already shown himself capable of. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
New York Times
27 minutes ago
- New York Times
Finding Jordon Hudson: What a New England road trip reveals about Bill Belichick's girlfriend
The left turn sneaks up on you, interrupting the wall of towering trees hugging both sides of this winding two-way road in suburban New England. Through the clearing, an electronic gate comes into view, blocking whatever lies beyond. Unless Google Maps has malfunctioned, this is the place — or more accurately, the culmination. Stop No. 17 on a two-day trek across New England in search of the answer to a question that has captivated the sports world: Who is Jordon Hudson? Advertisement Hopefully, an address on the other side of that gate can provide insight on Hudson beyond her role as the increasingly famous 24-year-old girlfriend of Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as coach of the New England Patriots and is almost 50 years her elder. Official filings show that the listed headquarters for all 16 of Hudson's limited liability companies is located here, nestled somewhere in this private golf community south of Boston. As my rented silver Chevy Trailblazer idles in the entrance lane earmarked for guests, a security guard slides open a glass door and lumbers out to greet me. Hi, I'm here to see Joshua Christian? That's the listed resident agent on most of Hudson's LLCs. 'Does he know you're coming?' Uh… no. 'Go on in.' The gate arm lifts. I'm in. I take the first left, down a long driveway dotted with multi-million dollar homes that runs parallel to the course's seventh and eighth holes. Finally, jackpot. A sprawling brown two-story with the matching address posted to the left of the garage — which, conveniently, is open. The trunk is also popped on a Mercedes sedan parked in the driveway, with a Callaway golf bag and two pairs of grass-stained sneakers lying nearby. Somebody's home. Admittedly, expectations are low. In my head, Christian opens the door and I explain why I'm interrupting his Saturday evening sunset. If he declines to talk — the heavy favorite — I thank him for his time and reverse down the driveway. Or maybe he actually shares a personal anecdote or two about Hudson that illuminates her character or ambitions. I'm practically rehearsing the options as I ascend the two short steps to the door, mash the electronic black doorbell and back away. Silence — and then the door jostles open. But it's not Christian, nor Hudson, who emerges. Instead, it's a familiar face with a recognizable mop of rustled grey hair — a silhouette I've seen stalking NFL sidelines for decades. Oh! Hey, Bill. How ya doing? The impetus for my 34-hour, 573.5-mile journey along the Northeastern coastline? Public fascination with Hudson, much of which stems from how she has reshaped the personal brand of arguably the greatest football coach of all time. But since Hudson has yet to give a single interview since Belichick's hiring at North Carolina in December — his first foray into college football — the world is instead left deciphering clues. Analyzing her 26-second on-stage answer at the recent Miss Maine USA pageant, where she finished as second runner-up. Scouring public records, Ring doorbell footage and the former national champion cheerleader's social media accounts for clues. Wondering if the couple is engaged, as the New York Times reported Hudson has told at least one person. Hunting for breadcrumbs, basically. Hudson did not respond to an interview request for this story, either. So in lieu of hearing from her directly, the next best option? Walking — or in this case, driving — hundreds of miles in her shoes. Start in the farthest northeastern corner of Maine, where traces of Hudson's childhood can still be found among the aging lobster cages. Head nearly five hours south — through one-stoplight towns, past countless roadside blueberry stands — until you hit Boston, where Hudson spent 1,000 hours studying cosmetology, and where she now owns multiple rental properties as part of a burgeoning $8 million real estate portfolio. From there, it's a curl around the coast to the tiniest tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown, Mass., where Hudson spent her formative years in the self-advertised 'gayest town in America.' Advertisement That unconventional backstory explains, at least partially, what led Hudson to becoming Belichick's 'creative muse,' as he wrote in his new book — and, in turn, a cultural fixation. 'I consider her a supernova,' says Dougie Freeman, a celebrity hairstylist and owner of West End Salon & Spa in Provincetown, who was Hudson's boss for several years. 'Our motto here at the salon is, 'Let us help you use what you've got to get what you want' … and maybe Jordon Hudson is a good example of that.' Belichick's NFL heyday was defined as much by winning as it was instructing his players to 'ignore the noise,' to block out any real or perceived distractions. Yet six months into his UNC tenure — before he's coached a single game on his $30 million guaranteed contract — Belichick's time in Chapel Hill has been defined by questions about Hudson's role. While the coach has maintained he has both a 'personal and professional' relationship with Hudson, who handles his promotional opportunities away from North Carolina, the line has proven to be blurry amid a series of scrutinized episodes. Hudson's Instagram profile, meanwhile, with its 110,000 followers, has been like a window into another world: one where Belichick, 73, posed as a fisherman next to her in a mermaid Halloween costume. 'This relationship has kind of pushed him into a different realm,' says Alice Leppert, associate professor of media and communication studies at Ursinus College. 'There's a clash of imagery between who fans knew him as, this one particular type of coach, versus who we're seeing in the public eye now. So it may just be that clash, that mismatch, that has gotten so many people's attention.' Amid Hudson's rise, her family's origins in Hancock, Maine, have brought attention to the 2,500-person town in the northern shadow of Acadia National Park, where Hudson was born in anonymity. Her parents, Heath and Lee, owned Frenchmans Bay Fisheries, a mussel and seaweed farming business they operated out of their rural ranch. Miss Daisy, Heath's dragger, made local headlines more than a time or two for being unceremoniously beached during sudden low tides. Advertisement Eventually, though, local fishing regulations changed, straining the Hudson's operation. That upbringing, as Hudson said both at the Miss Maine USA pageant and in various social media posts, is what sparked her passion for saving Maine fishermen. These days, the town named after founding father John Hancock is less known for its fishing scene. Instead, it's better known as the home of a summer program that trains orchestra conductors — or as the filming site of the 1989 horror film 'Pet Sematary,' based on Stephen King's novel. The local economy isn't all that's turned over. Most of the Hudsons no longer live in the area — except for Heath, who still resides in the family's old home. He was formally awarded ownership of the charcoal-colored house Hudson grew up in just last month, according to court records viewed by The Athletic. But more than a decade after Lee and Heath separated, and after Lee and her children left Hancock, there are still visible signs of Hudson's childhood. A dilapidated wooden shed out back, with a tattered sign advertising scallops. The rotting tree house next to it, which Heath once built for Hudson and her sisters to play in. David Johnston — who was born and raised in Hancock, and who now oversees its historical society — can't speak to the Hudsons personally, but he does have something to share. In a side room of the historical society, Johnston leans over and opens a long filing cabinet, where he maintains folders on every family that is, or was, part of Hancock. He plucks out two. The first folder provides a peek at the previous four or five generations of Hudsons. There's a newspaper article honoring Heath's Eagle Scout project, a footbridge over a swamp in a bird sanctuary at nearby Tunk Lake. There are children's drawings and scribbles by Jordon's sister Jenna; a birth announcement for another sister, Becca. Obituaries, communion pamphlets, records of school math meets. But save for a blank Frenchmans Bay Fisheries merchandise order form, featuring a picture of young Jordon and her sisters, there's no mention of Hudson. That's for the other folder, Johnston explains. He'd seen Hudson's name pop up in relation to Belichick, but never thought much of it — until the Bangor Daily News, his preferred local paper, started posting articles about her. At that point, Johnston made an executive decision. Advertisement 'This is something,' he says, 'we should probably record for future generations.' There's been no shortage of news to chronicle. Belichick requested his girlfriend be copied on certain UNC emails weeks into his tenure, around the same time she offered unsolicited advice to school communications staffers. In late February, as North Carolina was finalizing a deal with HBO's 'Hard Knocks,' she played an 'instrumental role' in the production pulling up stakes. All that came before her viral, off-camera interruption of a CBS interview, when Belichick was asked how the couple met. (They say it was on a 2021 flight to Palm Beach.) Most recently, the school denied a report that Hudson had been 'banned' from the football facility. The parade of headlines has done nothing to slow criticism locally and beyond. 'I am a longtime UNC fan and cannot believe you are stuck with a coach who is clearly being run by a woman who is young enough to be his granddaughter dominating football practice and interviews,' one longtime supporter wrote to the school's president, according to emails obtained by The Athletic. 'It's ridiculous, won't end well, and makes UNC look foolish.' It's that view of Hudson that comes through most strongly in her official Hancock folder. The bulging collection reads as if Hudson suddenly parachuted into the world, with no meaningful backstory beyond her relationship with Belichick. There's an article about her teasing a statement on social media in the wake of the CBS interview. A New York Post story from last July recaps a romantic bike ride the couple took on Nantucket. A review of Hudson's Miss Maine USA pageant performance, another about her being likely to decline a 'Dancing With The Stars' invite. There is even a meme tucked into the back: Hudson on the red carpet at the roast of Tom Brady … next to a life-sized Sugar Daddy candy. Whenever this story runs, Johnston asks, could someone please email him a copy? Hudson's cosmetology career began inside a pink–doused proving ground in Ptown. While still in high school, Hudson started working at Dougie Freeman's salon, which he's owned and operated since 1982. She quickly proved 'very gifted' at henna tattoo, with impressive hand-eye coordination that allowed her to draw intricate designs. She also did hair, sometimes while wearing a Miss Massachusetts sash. Advertisement 'My Jordon' — as Freeman, a Provincetown institution, calls her — fit right in at the fabulous parlor tucked inside a nondescript white house on Commercial Street. Over the years, a host of celebrities — the late Anthony Bourdain, Margaret Cho, the cast of 'Queer Eye' — have sunk into Freeman's flamingo-pink chairs. 'My parents always said,' Freeman jokes, 'that people who live on the Cape year-round have something to hide.' Hudson — plus her mother and siblings — moved here around 2010, after Frenchmans Bay finally went under. The census from the same year found that Provincetown registered the highest rate of same-sex couples of any municipality in the country. Evidence of that is everywhere, including the countless variations of pride flags flying down Commercial Street. Hudson's mother, Lee, now co-owns one of Ptown's dueling LGBTQ+ sex shops, Toys of Eros, on that very thoroughfare, where a window decal of a nun smoking a cigarette and an accompanying slogan welcome couples of all ages and orientations: More toys than the Devil has Sinners … 'Growing up in this town, she saw how alternative relationships work. They can work,' Freeman says of Hudson. 'I think that validated it for her.' Hudson eventually enrolled at the New England Hair Academy, which is housed in a renovated drug store just outside of Boston. Even after enrolling at Bridgewater State University, where she studied philosophy and helped the cheer squad win two national titles, Hudson made it a priority to avoid becoming a 'beauty school drop out,' as she wrote in one Instagram post from November 2019. In that same note, she explained how she spent one 12-week period juggling cosmetology school during the day — usually until about 4:30 p.m. — before making the hour-long commute back to BSU for cheerleading practice, which usually ended around 10:30 p.m. Those experiences ultimately led to Hudson forming two of her earliest LLCs — 'Roosevelt Beauty' and 'Roosevelt Glam,' both of which date to December 2023 and derive from her full name, Jordon Isabella Roosevelt Hudson — to pursue opportunities related to cosmetics, hygiene products and event styling. Others she's created since — all since 2023, according to documents obtained by The Athletic — range from real estate oversight to book and movie production, from trademark and copyright management to information technology (IT) solutions, from business operations to merchandising. At least four of the companies are directly affiliated with her boyfriend: Chapel Bill LLC; All BB Team LLC; Coach Show LLC; and BB's Version LLC — the last of which is a play on the strategy Taylor Swift used to reclaim the intellectual property rights on several of her songs. Advertisement 'People in Ptown are veeeeery resourceful,' Freeman adds. 'Many of us wear many hats to make money.' Freeman says he last spoke to Hudson via a series of internet DMs about two weeks before our visit, after he spoke to another outlet for a profile on 'my most famous employee.' How's she doing? What did she say? 'She seems to be doing fine,' Freeman responds. 'She said, 'I understand you're going to do an interview with the Washington Post.' And I said, 'I said a lot of nice things about you, I think you'll be pleased with it.' And I assume she was.' Even that brief encounter makes Freeman, as far as I can ascertain, the only person who actually knows Hudson — who stays in touch with her, at least to some extent — who has agreed to speak about her. That isn't for a lack of trying. Beyond her own reticence to be interviewed, Hudson's circle has similarly bunkered down — in many ways, in Belichick-esque fashion. A dozen-plus friends of Hudson who The Athletic reached out to did not respond. Her business partners — Christian, plus the other lawyer who helped organize her LLCs, David Jensen — are similarly silent. Hudson's pageant and cheer coaches, from the high school level on up, also ignored multiple outreaches on multiple platforms. Other than Freeman, the closest I get to anyone who actually knows Hudson? Surprisingly, her parents. Lee picks up the cold call, but upon learning there's a reporter on the other end of the line, interrupts: 'I have nothing to say about that.' Click. Heath at least hears out my pitch before politely declining. 'No, thank you!' Hudson's agency in insulating herself from legacy media — even as her growing fame shatters the barrier between private citizen and public figure — is part of what makes her story so lack of information about her effectively brightens the spotlight trained on Hudson's every move (or Instagram story). Advertisement 'It empowers a lot of internet sleuthing,' says Leppert, also the co-editor of Celebrity Studies. 'Certainly I think she qualifies as a celebrity, because look at the amount of attention that has been focused on her — and the fact that she is actively courting that attention, right? That Instagram is public. She is constantly posting photos with narratives of her relationship on it.' That relationship, and everything that has come with it, is why Freeman says he no longer views Hudson as just 'one of the most beautiful young women I've ever seen.' Have you seen the CBS interview, Freeman asks? Or her Dunkin' Super Bowl commercial, alongside Ben Affleck? 'When you do that, honey,' Freeman says, 'you've arrived.' He notes that though he's never met Belichick, he does not understand how anyone can consider the couple anything but a 'we,' given all that's transpired publicly. 'You know,' he adds, pausing for dramatic effect, 'she's not less than.' If anything, Freeman says? There's room in his eyes for Hudson's star to grow. 'It's about Jordon Hudson, the book. It's about Jordon Hudson, the movie. It's about Jordon Hudson, the brand,' he adds. But before our visit ends, Freeman lowers his voice for the first time all afternoon. He's read much of the backlash Hudson has received, especially after the CBS interview, and worries about the toll that may take on her. After one of his previous stints with reality TV went wrong, Freeman knows firsthand how vitriol can overwhelm. 'Fame comes with some barbs,' he says soberingly, 'and it doesn't always come with fortune.' During the Miss Maine USA pageant in May, Hudson appeared to allude to the criticism: 'I'm hoping that anybody who's watching this finds the strength to push through whatever it is that they're going through — and embodies that hate never wins.' Back on the front porch inside the secluded golf community, it's tough to tell who is more surprised: Me … or Bill Belichick, who appears to have answered the door for a solicitor for the first time in a long time. But it's him all right, in the flesh, sporting a navy blue T-shirt and mesh Carolina blue gym shorts. His usually stoic expression is decidedly less so, though, replaced instead with something between confusion and unease. Advertisement There are, as you might expect, roughly a thousand questions ricocheting in my mind. On my search for Jordon Hudson … did I accidentally find her? Is she here, too? At no point in my search process did I expect to find Belichick. But here he was: at home, and at the headquarters of Hudson's litany of LLCs. As Freeman says, a true we. With less than 100 days until North Carolina's season opener against TCU, it's uncertain what Hudson's role in Belichick's orbit might become. But there's no doubt that the separation of love and sport will remain blurry. Also guaranteed? That the world will be watching, eagerly. After a brief whiteout, I realize it would be wise to introduce myself and explain why I'm here. Belichick tells me he doesn't know a Joshua Christian, who organized his girlfriend's LLCs. So if this isn't Christian's property, I ask, is it Belichick's? Silence. There's the coach everyone knows. Well, I continue, if Christian isn't here for an interview, would Belichick be up for one? He quickly declines. So then what would be the best way to facilitate an interview with you? 'Uh … do you have a card or something?' Belichick examines the card and says he'll have someone reach out. The end of our chance encounter, clearly, is near. But then I remember the two pairs of shoes in the front driveway and try extending the scene a few more seconds — all in the hope that maybe, just maybe, Hudson will appear. But attempts at small talk fall flat. Saturday night beckons, and Belichick has better things to do than strike up conversation with a stranger. Saying goodbye, he backsteps off the porch and into the residence. Then he politely shuts the door, away from any more prying eyes. — Additional reporting by The Athletic's Matt Baker. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images, iStock)
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Raiders' OL Reveals Significant Offseason Change at OTAs
Raiders' OL Reveals Significant Offseason Change at OTAs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders failed to gain any traction during the 2024 NFL season. While injuries certainly did not help, poor coaching by Antonio Pierce and bad personnel decisions by general manager Tom Telesco were responsible for the team's four-win campaign as well. Advertisement Ever since being fired in January, Telesco has been dragged by Raiders fans for the addition of quarterback Gardner Minshew and the failure to re-sign 2022 First-Team All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs, However, Telesco made three great selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. This netted Las Vegas First-Team All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, All-Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson and starting right tackle DJ Glaze. Las Vegas Raiders OL Jackson Powers-Johnson (58).Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Powers-Johnson overcame a slew of preseason injuries and was a solid starter for the Raiders at both guard and center last season. Now, the new regime in Las Vegas plans to play him exclusively at center. Advertisement He spoke to the media last week after an OTA workout and revealed that he made a significant change this offseason. "I've really hammered down a routine. I've lost 10 to 15 pounds," Powers-Johnson said. "I'm faster, I'm stronger, I'm getting a lot better at technique. ... I think I'm going to make a great jump. I'm going to give it as best as I got and have some fun." During his senior season at Oregon, Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy. This is given annually to the best center in college football, so his position change makes sense. As a rookie, he gained ample experience as he played 956 snaps in 15 games, 14 of which he started. According to Pro Football Focus, he played 535 at offensive guard and 421 at center, earning an overall grade of 63.9, which ranked in the middle of the pack for interior offensive linemen. Advertisement Powers-Johnson has the ability to become an All-Pro or Pro Bowl-level player for the Silver and Black. He will need to continue growing and improving throughout his NFL career to achieve this, and he is already starting with a major change this offseason. Related: Ashton Jeanty Receives 4-Word Message From Raiders OL Jackson Powers-Johnson Related: Raiders Veteran LB Praises North Carolina Coach Bill Belichick This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
