Latest news with #Bech
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders Called Out for 'Head-Scratching' Draft Pick
The Las Vegas Raiders have been praised at length for their performance in the 2025 NFL Draft. Many felt that new general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll landed the perfect blend of Week 1 starters, solid depth pieces and players with elite traits who have plenty of upside to tap into. While the roster still needs tons of work, it is massively improved from last year's four-win team. The Raiders may not be a serious contender this season, but the new regime in Las Vegas is building the franchise the right way and positioning itself for a run in the coming years. Las Vegas Raiders WR Jack Bech (18).Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Not every pick in the draft was considered a homerun, however. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler asserted that the Raiders' selection of TCU wideout Jack Bech in the second round was the most head-scratching move of the draft. Advertisement "Bech has the ball skills and competitiveness to make a quick impact on the Las Vegas offense, and the Raiders had a solid draft in Spytek's first year at the helm," Fowler wrote. "But several scouts from around the league -- even ones that really like Bech -- felt the second round was a bit high and the third round might have been a more sensible range." At the end of the day, it only really matters what the Las Vegas brass thought about Bech if they are the team that is selecting him. Besides the point is the fact that Bech was taken with the No. 58 pick, which is the end of the second round and just a few spots from the third round anyway. Based on his track record and toughness, everything that Las Vegas wants out of Bech should come to fruition. Bech has a great chance to be a Week 1 starter for the Raiders, and if he can produce as a rookie, all doubters of this pick will be silenced. Related: Maxx Crosby Makes Personal Announcement on Monday Related: Raiders Hire Two-Time Super Bowl-Winning Exec to Key Front Office Role
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jack Bech is studying two RoY, an OPoY, and a Raiders legend to implement into his game
Jack Bech is studying two RoY, an OPoY, and a Raiders legend to implement into his game Everyone loves player comps. Being able to compare a player to a known NFL player helps fans make sense of they type of player a prospect is or could become. Raiders second round rookie receiver Jack Bech drew comparisons to Rams standout Puka Nacua because of his play style. Bech himself agrees and has embraced that comparison. Even if it's a lofty one considering Nacua came on strong right away in the pros, going on to set rookie receiving records. But it isn't just Nacua. Bech is taking the aspects of the former Rookie of the Year's game and studying them and doing the same with a few other receivers including another rookie of the year and offensive player of the year. 'There's definitely a few," Bech said of receivers he emulates. "I definitely like breaking down the guys like Puka [Nacua], how he uses his body to get open. He doesn't dance around a whole lot. He attacks the leverage of the body. He uses his big, physical presence, his physical ability to get open. And the different guys like [Cooper] Kupp, just the way he understands the game, the nuances of the game. It's something that I'm always going to strive to get better at each and every day for my whole career. Just different guys who run routes. Some of the best route-runners in the league. People like Amari Cooper and Justin Jefferson. Coach Chris Beatty does a great job of that. Showing you a bunch of people's games, so you can kind of just pick from people and take what you like. Kind of just mimic their game a little bit.' Kupp was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 with 1947 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. Jefferson was the Rookie of the Year in 2020 and has never let up as one of the best receivers in the NFL over the past five seasons including 1809 yards in 2022. While Amari Cooper has never played at the level of the other three receivers mentioned, he has long been considering one of the most sound route runners in the game. it's studying and taking what he wants from these guys that Bech sees as the key to being a star in the NFL. 'It's easy to come out here and understand if you've got a stutter and go or if you have a curl or if you're blocking backside. But it's more about understanding the different leverages, understanding what the defense is doing and then taking it a step further," Bech added. "Understanding the nuances of the game, knowing where to attack. My big thing is knowing how to get open and when to do it. A double move might work great, a stutter-and-go or a slant-and-go might work great against a cover-3, but that might not work well if it's cover-4 or cover-2. Different things like that as I go, the great coaches we have in this building, just learning more and more from them and really sharpening my mental around the game. Because that's how you latch and that's how to become a great player. It's what is between the ears.' This mental approach, along with what he says is his passion for the game are what attracted the Raiders to him. It's everything they said they held in the highest regard when it came to evaluating potential draft talent.
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jack Bech pens heartfelt letter to late brother after being drafted by Raiders
Jack Bech pens heartfelt letter to late brother after being drafted by Raiders Show Caption Hide Caption Best AFC 2025 NFL Draft picks USA TODAY's Tyler Dragon breaks down which teams in the AFC drafted the best this year. Sports Seriously Jack Bech became an NFL player when the Las Vegas Raiders selected him in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After the culmination of achieving his NFL dream, the 22-year-old couldn't help but think about his late older brother, Tiger Bech, who was one of 14 people killed on New Year's Day in New Orleans after a 42-year-old American man, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street. The younger Bech mourned his brother's loss and credited him for instilling belief the TCU product could become an NFL player in a letter posted to The Players' Tribune. "I miss you so much, Big Bro," Bech wrote. "And I wish more than anything that I could be talking to you right now. Saying all of this, instead of writing it down. Giving you a big hug, tears streaming down both our faces, as I tell you that this whole thing – getting drafted, making it to the NFL, beginning my journey as a professional football player – it's all thanks to you. All because of you." Bech went on to praise his brother for serving as a quality role model to him and "always having his back" during their youth. Additionally, he outlined his older brother was "his No. 1 fan." During his time at TCU, the elder Bech would talk up his younger brother at any opportunity, knowing he was on track to become an NFL player. "You were the first one to see greatness in me," Jack Bech explained. "To tell me that God gifted me with some things he doesn't give to everybody and that there was no limit to what I could do in this life." "You told me that, straight up. And not just in a rah-rah, hype-me-up kind of way. You really meant it. You believed it." "That made me feel like I could do anything I put my mind to. And that confidence you instilled inside me – the confidence you put there – it's something I'll have for as long as I live. It's a huge part of what got me to this place, and one of the biggest things I want to thank you for right now." Bech made it clear he will continue to honor his brother while with the Raiders. He has a tattoo on his left shoulder that reads "7 to Heaven," an homage to his brother, who wore the No. 7 jersey during his college career at Princeton, but noted it will go beyond that. "See, this whole thing is a two for one deal," Bech wrote. "It's two people living out this dream, Tiger." Bech also shared the final message he shared with Tiger as he laid in the trauma unit of the hospital with injuries that "had left him brain dead." "I love you so much, Tiger. You were the best big brother in the entire world. I was so blessed to be your little brother, and you will always be with me wherever I go."
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Experts are roundly praising Raiders draft class with one calling it a 'masterpiece'
Experts are roundly praising Raiders draft class with one calling it a 'masterpiece' If you are thinking the Raiders new regime kinda nailed this draft, you're not alone in that opinion. It would appear the feeling about how the Raiders worked this draft and added talent is being pretty roundly praised. A quick glance at a few major outlets' opinions of how the Raiders did seems to confirm that. The Raiders worked the draft by trading down twice in the second round, bringing their tally from nine picks to 11, with five picks inside the top 100. Here is that class: Round 1 (No. 6): RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Round 2 (No. 58): WR Jack Bech, TCU Round 3 (No. 68): CB Darien Porter, Iowa State Round 3 (No. 98): OG Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech Round 3 (No. 99): OT Charles Grant, William & Mary Round 4 (No. 108): WR Dont'e Thornton Jr., Tennessee Round 4 (No. 135): DT Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina Round 6 (No. 180): DT JJ Pegues, Mississippi Round 6 (No. 213): WR Tommy Mellott, Montana State Round 6 (No. 215): QB Cam Miller, North Dakota State Round 7 (No. 222): LB Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota A quick search found Pro Football Focus, and CBS Sports who graded every team's draft class. And the positivity over the Raiders class looks to be pretty much unanimous. Grade: A I suspected Jeanty's strength through contact and open-field burst wouldn't make it past the Raiders if he was still in the green room in Green Bay. General manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll hit the right notes with Bech at receiver and Rogers and Grant improving the offensive line. The Raiders needed at least two receivers in this draft, and they hit a home run with Thornton, an underutilized size/speed guy. Hemingway brings activity and Pegues size to the team's defensive line rotation. They picked both of the quarterbacks who played in the 2024 FCS Championship Game: Miller (North Dakota State) and Mellott (Montana State). Miller has potential as a reserve, and Mellott -- who put up elite workout numbers and ran routes as a receiver at his pro day -- was announced as a receiver when he was picked. Notes: The Raiders were one of five teams to receiver a solid A grade and one of only two teams (Titans the other) to receive at least an A for each day along with an A+ (Day one). PFF Grade: A Jeanty — His 152 missed tackles forced were nearly 50 more than any other FBS running back last season, and he was the only back in college football with 10 or more touchdown runs of 20-plus yards (12). Bech — The star of the Senior Bowl game, Bech is another weapon for newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith. He brings excellent hands, having dropped just one pass in 2024. He was also efficient, averaging 2.44 yards per route run. Porter — Porter is a former wide receiver who ranks above the 95th percentile in height and length and has an elite track background that translates to the field. Rogers — Rogers brings extensive experience at tackle, having clocked 55 career starts and more than 4,300 snaps across five seasons at Texas Tech. While he possesses good athleticism, he lacks the ideal lower-body power to anchor. Grant — Grant is a late bloomer at the tackle position, having never played football until his junior year in high school. He carries raw potential, with quick feet and lateral quickness to reach his landmarks, which helped him earn an impressive 93.0 PFF run-blocking grade on zone concepts in 2024. Thornton — There aren't many wide receivers at 6-foot-5 and over 200 pounds who can run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash. Thornton wasn't a high-volume option in Tennessee's offense, but he made his looks count, averaging 25.5 yards per reception. Hemingway — Hemingway can provide some pass-rush production from the interior and could be moved out to the edge. Pegues — Pegues ranked 124th on the PFF Big Board, making this a solid value selection for the Raiders. He earned an 81.8 PFF run-defense grade and a 76.4 PFF pass-rushing grade against true pass sets in 2024. Mellott — While he doesn't have an NFL-caliber arm, he brings plenty of speed and athleticism to the table. Mellott accounted for 46 total touchdowns in 2024. Miller — The Raiders add another FCS quarterback in Cam Miller, who posted a 92.6 passing grade from a clean pocket in 2024. Lindenberg — Lindenberg is an excellent run defender... While his 61.0 coverage grade isn't eye-popping, he never allowed a touchdown into his coverage during his collegiate career. Notes: Two teams got an A+ with seven other teams landing a solid A grade. And they didn't just hand out positive grades either. For instance the 49ers got a D grade fo their draft class. CBS Grade: A Raiders new general manager John Spytek, take a bow. What a debut. Jeanty was one of the clear blue-chippers available in this class. Bech is one of the most complete receivers in the class who's going to rock in the middle of the field. Throw in the addition of Thornton, a 6-foot-5 burner with 4.30 speed, and Geno Smith should be popping champagne. Porter has immense upside because of his athleticism and length at cornerback, and Rogers possesses similar potential as a stellar athlete in his own right who played nearly 4,400 snaps in college at four positions. Pegues and especially Hemingway give the defense pass-rushing juice on the inside. I even compared Cam Miller to Brock Purdy. This is a masterpiece for a team that needed skill-position weapons on offense and depth on defense. Notes: The Raiders were one of six teams to receive solid A grades. Highest grades went to Round two WR Jack Bech (A+) and Round three CB Darien Porter (A+). With sixth round QB/WR Tommy Mellott receiving the worst grade (C-).
New York Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
2025 NFL Draft most memorable moments: Emotional reactions, best interviews
The 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wis., wrapped up on Saturday. The drama was delivered with quarterback Shedeur Sanders' high-profile fall from potential first-round pick to the 144th selection to the Cleveland Browns. But there was no shortage of memorable moments outside of Sanders' slide, as a new class of college hopefuls turned into NFL rookies. It all started with Commissioner Roger Goodell and Lil Wayne riding around the draft stage on bikes (despite some unsteady turns, nobody fell). Here are some of the 2025 draft's most memorable moments. Roger Goodell led former Packers and Lil Wayne out on stage on bikes 😂 #NFLdraft — ESPN (@espn) April 25, 2025 Getting drafted is a dream come true for many prospects. Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison had one of the more emotional reactions of the weekend as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the second round, 53rd overall. Morrison's father, Darryl, played four NFL seasons as a safety for Washington. Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison was emotional after being drafted by the Bucs ♥️ "I'm not going to let you down, man." 🎥: @NDFootball — The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 26, 2025 But one of the most sentimental stories of the weekend is that of the Bech family. TCU WR Jack Bech was selected 58th by the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday. Bech's brother, Martin 'Tiger' Bech, was one of the 14 people killed in a terrorist attack in the early hours of New Year's Day on Bourbon Street in New Orleans earlier this year. Advertisement Jack has repeatedly honored Tiger, who was an All-Ivy League return specialist at Princeton, throughout the draft process. He has referred to his late brother as his other half and wore Tiger's No. 7 jersey in February's Senior Bowl, which he played in exactly one month after Tiger's death. 'Man, it's simple: my brother had some wings on me. He gave it to me. And he let that all take place,' Jack Bech told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero after scoring the winning touchdown that day. Watching Bech celebrate his selection alongside his family on Friday was a great moment. Jack Bech celebrating with his family after getting drafted by the Raiders 🫶 Bech's brother Tiger was killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack on New Year's Eve. — NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2025 Draft weekend is a long one; it's nearly impossible to watch every pick without interruption. When the Cleveland Browns called Quinshon Judkins to tell the Ohio State RB they would be selecting him with the 36th pick, Judkins' mom had to answer the phone. His watch party started celebrating, which lured Judkins back to the room to learn his fate with the Browns. At least it didn't go to voicemail. mom held it down on the call with AB before @quinshon_ got back in the room 🤣 — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 26, 2025 Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston brought all the good vibes to the green room on Thursday. Before being selected with the 30th pick by the Buffalo Bills, Hairston was shown celebrating with the other green room attendees picked before him, from Travis Hunter to Ashton Jeanty to Shemar Stewart. 'I just stayed positive. Stayed happy. Congratulated all of my brothers who got their name called before me and I was just so excited for them,' Hairston told reporters after. 'And the fact that I got to hear my name as well. I don't care how late it is. It could be 3 a.m. I'll wait to hear my name, and I'm just ecstatic to be a Buffalo Bill.' Advertisement Hairston's excitement came through in his post-pick interview with NFL Network's Jamie Erdahl. 'Man, I can't believe this is going on right now. I'm so thankful. I'm so blessed, man. To hear my name called, it's truly a dream come true. I give all thanks to God,' Hairston said as he showed the inside of his jacket, which was covered with pictures of his family. 'Let's get to work, Buffalo!' Hairston got a great photo with Bills Mafia, too (Josh Allen fat head included). This moment is 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 🥹@MHairston22 | #NFLDraft — Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 25, 2025 Tyler Shough was the first quarterback off the board on Day 2 when the New Orleans Saints picked him with the 40th selection. Shough's dog, Murphy, couldn't have been more excited about the pick. He was even repping a Saints bandana during Shough's TV interview. Tyler Shough's dog had to get in on the celebration 🙌 @tylershough2 📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC📱: Stream on @NFLPlus — NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025 Videoing into players' draft day watch parties can always bring some unexpected programming. Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. was selected with the ninth pick by the New Orleans Saints and amid cheers and hugs of celebration, Kelvin's infant son Khalil spit up. Excitement? Nerves? Eh, draft weekend can be a little nauseating for us all. We just had a baby throw up during the NFL Draft. — Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) April 25, 2025 Coverage of the draft's green room was limited after the first round, and commissioner Roger Goodell takes a break from announcing picks after Day 1. But Goodell took the stage for a special announcement on Day 3, as the hometown Green Bay Packers selected Texas edge Barryn Sorrell with the 124th pick. Sorrell reportedly arrived in green room on Friday night and returned on Saturday to hear his name called. Worth the wait. Serendipity. I'm told Texas EDGE Barryn Sorrell got to Green Bay last night to check out the draft. He didn't get drafted yesterday but stayed and came back today. Midway into the 4th round, he gets drafted by the hometown team. — Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) April 26, 2025 The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Washington LB Carson Bruener in the seventh round, 226th overall. Bruener is the son of former Steelers tight end and current scout Mark Bruener, who was a first-round pick in 1995. Carson took his draft call from his family cabin in Washington, sitting in the same exact seat where his dad was drafted by the Steelers 30 years earlier. With the 226th pick in the 2025 #NFLDraft, we select LB Carson Bruener. — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 26, 2025 Plenty of prospects won't ever forget the day they were drafted. But for new Lions edge Ahmed Hassanein, April 26 is important in more ways than one. Detroit selected the Boise State product in the sixth round, 196th overall. With the pick, Hassanein became the first-ever Egyptian player drafted to the NFL. Advertisement But his day didn't end there. Later in the afternoon, Hassenein reshared a photo of himself and his new fiancée. He was wearing the same suit he was shown taking his draft call in. New DE Making Moves Quick ENGAGEDVia: IG/Ahmedhassanein91 — DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) April 26, 2025
