Raiders rookie camp: Jack Bech, Darien Porter show flashes as newbies get their ears wet

New York Times

09-05-2025

HENDERSON, Nev. — As temperatures pushed 90 degrees, Pete Carroll strapped on his gloves and backpedaled on the field as the Las Vegas Raiders' defensive backs looked on. With the 73-year-old coach showing that type of energy during the stretching period, there was little room for anyone else to slack off.
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'He was out there working on his press,' cornerback Darien Porter said Friday. 'It's funny, but I really appreciate it. To see that kind of energy in rookie minicamp this early in the process is awesome.'
Throughout the first practice of the Raiders' three-day camp on Friday, the energy level was high. The team headquarters has an indoor facility, but the coaching staff kept the session outdoors. The result was that the players' fitness was pushed to the brink.
'You've got to be conditioned,' receiver Jack Bech said. 'You have to be able to run all day. And I think, obviously, conditioning on your own and football conditioning, it's a little different. … I'm excited to keep coming out here and keep learning under one of the greatest coaches ever and keep sharpening not only my physical skill set but my mental skill set, too.'
The practice was without pads, which makes it harder to evaluate linemen, linebackers and running backs, but Bech and Porter still managed to stand out.
Bech said he has aimed to model his game after Los Angeles Rams receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, former Raiders receiver Amari Cooper and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson. With Nacua, it's his ability to use his body, leverage and physicality to get open. With Kupp, it's how he understands the nuances of the game. With Cooper and Jefferson, it's their precise route running.
Although Bech has a long way to go to reach the level of those players, he was consistently open on Friday. 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.
Bech isn't the fastest or the biggest receiver — he's 6-foot-1, 215 pounds — but he uses his mind as much as his body to create advantages.
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'It's more about understanding the different leverages and just understanding what the defense is doing and then taking it a step further,' Bech said. 'You have to understand the nuance of the game and know where to attack. A big thing is knowing how to get open and when to do it. A double move, a stutter-and-go or a slant-and-go might work great against a Cover 3 where you can get them to bite, but that might not work well against Cover 4 or Cover 2. It's different things like that. … That's how you last, and that's how you become a great player: It's what is between the ears.'
Porter is more of a ball of intriguing traits at this point, but they're pretty darned impressive. He's thin, but he's a legit 6-foot-2, and his 4.3-second 40-yard dash time from the combine shows up on the field. He transitioned from receiver to cornerback in college and was still only a rotational player in 2024, so he has plenty to learn. His fundamentals and technique are still a work in progress.
Porter has the physical skills to make up for his mistakes, but they'll still have to happen less frequently for him to get into the mix with Jakorian Bennett, Eric Stokes and Decamerion Richardson for a starting role as an outside corner. Carroll has had a history of developing raw cornerbacks — a la Richard Sherman and Tariq Woolen — and Porter hopes he's next on the list.
'They're both tall, long guys,' Porter said. 'I think athletically I fit a little bit more with Tariq than Richard. I'm just looking to take all the coaching I can to get to the level of those guys.'
Here are some additional notes from practice.
• The Raiders had more than 70 participants at practice, which is much more than in years past. It's been a habit of Carroll's, however, going back to his time as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. The group was composed of the 11 drafted rookies, 15 undrafted free agents, International Pathway Program defensive tackle Laki Tasi and numerous other players who were trying out for spots on the team. The idea of bringing in so many is to give the coaching staff enough players to utilize a two-deep depth chart and run full team drills on both sides of the ball.
#RAIDERS ROSTER NEWS:
– Signed the following 15 undrafted free agents:@Raiders | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/YlA1QvDnz7
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) May 9, 2025
• It was a quiet first day on the job for running back Ashton Jeanty, but that's to be expected given that there was no contact allowed. His time to shine will come.
• Tommy Mellott, who played quarterback in college but is transitioning to receiver, spent most of his time lined up in the slot. He didn't do much in practice, but his speed jumps out.
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The same goes for Dont'e Thornton, who's just as fast despite being much bigger at 6-4, 205 pounds. Between those two and veteran receiver Tre Tucker, the Raiders have more deep-threat options than they did at this point last year.
• Charles Grant lined up exclusively at left tackle during the media viewing portion of practice. He was locked into that position throughout his college career, too, but Carroll has said he'd also like to see him get some work at right tackle.
Unlike Grant, fellow third-round pick Caleb Rogers moved around during practice. He lined up at both right guard and right tackle. While the Raiders drafted him as a guard, they aren't going to limit him.
Rogers started games at left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle in college. His best path to playing time is at guard, but it makes sense for the Raiders to continue to cross-train him given the unpredictable nature of injuries.
'I told them when they drafted me that I want to be a guy that can play all five (positions),' Rogers said Friday. 'Wherever they're going to need me to fit in, that's where I want to be. … I don't call myself a tackle (or a guard), I call myself an O-lineman.'
(Photo of Jack Bech: Candice Ward / Getty Images)