Latest news with #Silver&Black
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Raiders Countdown to kickoff catch up 99-95: Who wore it best and who's wearing it now
Raiders Countdown to kickoff catch up 99-95: Who wore it best and who's wearing it now OTA's are done which means the next phase of the Raiders offseason begins. Next up is mandatory minicamp. There are 100 numbers on the Raiders roster and 94 days until kickoff. So, in light of that, we're gonna do a bit of catchup in our countdown. No. 99 Who's wearing it now: DE Andre Carter II The former undrafted free agent out of Army signed with the Raiders last season, appearing in three games and putting up a half sack and one tackle. Who wore it best: DE Sean Jones Jones was a second round pick by the Raiders in the 1984 NFL Draft. He spent his first four seasons in the pros with the Raiders. In that time he put up 31 sacks including a career high 15.5 in 1986. Yes, I know Warren Sapp spent his four seasons with the Raiders in the number 99, but his numbers during his time in Silver & Black were not nearly as impressive as Jones. Most saw Sapp's time in Oakland as a way to pad his stats for his Hall of Fame bid. No. 98 Who's wearing it now: DE Maxx Crosby The former fourth round pick enters his seventh season with the Raiders fresh off a long term extension that made him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history. At least for a few days. Who wore it best: DE Maxx Crosby Crosby has 59.5 career sacks, putting him a hair below averaging double digit sacks in his career. His 59.5 sacks is third in franchise history behind Greg Townsend (107.5) and Howie Long (84.0). No. 97 Who's wearing it now: DT Tonka Hemingway The Rookie fourth round pick out of South Carolina. Who wore it best: DT Russell Maryland Played four seasons with the Raiders from 1996-99. He only wore the number 99 one season in which he had 52 tackles and two sacks. No. 96 Who's wearing it now: DT Jonah Laulu Laulu enters his second season with the Raiders. He was originally a seventh round pick by the Colts in the 2024 NFL Draft. He didn't make the final roster and was scooped up by Las Vegas where he appeared in all 17 games, with seven starts and had 35 combined tackles. Who wore it best: DT Darrell Russell Russell was the Raiders pick at second overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He dominated the defensive interior for five seasons in Silver & Black including being named an All Pro once and taking two trips to the Pro Bowl. He put up 28.5 sacks in that time. No. 95 Who's wearing it now: DT Leki Fotu The sixth year veteran signed with the Raiders this offseason. He has appeared in 58 NFL games with 22 starts for the Cardinals and Jets. Who wore it best: DT John Jenkins Though he spent just two seasons with the Raiders, it was enough for him to make him the best to wear it. He started all 34 games in those seasons, putting up 107 tackles, seven for a loss.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Raiders 2025: Dont'e Thornton Jr. a prototypical throwback
Standing 6-foot-5 with 4.30-flat speed, wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. is a throwback to the prototypical player the Raiders would've drafted based soley on size and speed. | Photo by Robin Alam/How does a wide receiver prospect who stands nearly 6-foot-5 and runs a 4.3-flat 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine not get taken until the fourth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft? When said prospect is viewed as a one-trick pony. Advertisement Despite measuring in at 6-foot-4 5/8 inches (nearly 6-foot-5) and 205 pounds and running a blazing 40, Tennessee wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. didn't hear his name called until Day 3 of the draft. But he went to a team where a prospect of his nature would've been a much higher selection in eras past: The Las Vegas Raiders. By The Numbers: Don'te Thorton Jr., Wide Receiver, Tennessee 2024: 13 games, 26 receptions, 661 yards (25.4 yards per catch average), 6 touchdowns Career (2021-24): 47 total games (25 at Oregon, 22 at Tennessee), 65 receptions, 1,426 yards (21.9 yards per catch average, 10 touchdowns; 2 carries, 6 yards, 0 touchdowns At his size and speed, Thornton is a prototypical throwback to a point in history where those two attributes were the primary job requirements to sport Silver & Black. So much so that current Raiders owner Mark Davis quipped the selection was the 'Al Davis' pick. 'Yeah, Mark joked that was the Al Davis pick of this draft, the height, weight, speed, raw traits, athleticism, speed, and I think it's just focusing on what he can do and what he can be,' Las Vegas general manager John Spytek said of Thornton during a post draft press conference. 'I mean, he's a 4.3, low 4.3 guy. He's 6'4'-plus 200-something pounds, big-time five-star recruit, goes to Oregon, then goes to Tennessee. You watch his target tape, I think it's pretty impressive. And we think he hasn't hit his ceiling yet. We think he can still refine and improve under our coaches, but he definitely has physical traits that are outstanding.' While Thornton is viewed as single-skilled specialist coming out of Tennessee, that singular trick is one hell of a bang. He averaged a nation-leading 25.4 yards per catch in his final season for the Volunteers hauling in 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns. It was a low-volume but electrifying senior season at Tennessee. Advertisement It's Thornton's 'scare you death' jets that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must take advantage of — in any shape or way possible. Go-Go Gadget Speed Whether it was your standard fly/go routes or deep posts, Thornton's instant acceleration and breakaway speed were ever present this past season. The 2024 campaign was a season of career-high marks as Thornton was targeted 34 times with his production all being his collegiate career best. Thornton spent his first two years as an Oregon Duck before transferring and becoming a Tennessee Volunteer from 2023-24. As a field stretcher who tests a defense's athletic ability and discipline, Thornton is the type of receiving option the Raiders sorely missed. He's a unique blend of freakish physical profile and athleticism that many defensive backs can't run with. Whether it's sending him deep, using him on jet sweeps/end arounds, screens or even handing him the rock similar to how speedster Cordarrelle Patterson is used, Las Vegas should get the ball in Thornton's hands as much as possible to see what he can do. Advertisement Las Vegas lacked legitimate speed at the wide receiver position with third-year wideout Tre Tucker being the lone burner in the group last season who got consistent play. Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll addressed this by selecting Thornton with the 108th overall pick and also bringing Montana State's Tommy Mellott with the 213th overall pick in the sixth round. Mellott, a collegiate quarterback converting to wide receiver, is a lot smaller than his draft classmate at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, but clocked in a 4.39 40-yard dash time at Montana State's pro day. Route Refinement A really tall James Jett is Thorton's profile as he enters the NFL. This is due to the wideout's lack of a true route tree. Advertisement He's a tall receiver and it's that high-cut nature which pigeon holes his offensive impact. Yes, Kelly and the Raiders should without a doubt test defenses by sending Thornton on the routes he runs well: Fly/Go, deep corners and posts. But to make Thornton less predictable and more of a complete package, he'll need to spend time refining his route-running ability with wide receiver's coach Chris Betty to truly become a versatile option and not a one-trick pony in Kelly's offense. The instant acceleration is present on routes where Thornton can use his long legs to stride, but if he is able to develop short-area quickness and get in and out of breaks with little wasted movement, a 6-foot-5 target on slants, comebacks, curls, digs, and out routes is an enticing option for starting quarterback Geno Smith. Temper Year 1 expectations for Thornton as he's got plenty to prove in terms of the route tree and beating NFL-caliber press coverage. But if the defense makes a mistake, it'll be quite costly. Contested Catches That all said, Kelly is likely concocting ways he can use Thornton's 6-foot-5 frame and speed to be a jump-ball/contested catch nightmare. While the wide receiver's collegiate production/targets were erratic, the Raiders play caller can take advantage of Thorton's height and long arms from the jump. Advertisement Even when collegiate defensive backs were able to keep up with Thornton downfield, the receiver's ability to out jump and dominate at the catch point is extremely difficult to defend. While Thornton will meet pro defenders who are just as fast — if not faster — not many have the physical attributes combined with the mental game to keep up, look back to find the ball, and make a play on it against a very tall target. More from
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Recapping the Raiders 2025 NFL Draft
Recapping the Raiders 2025 NFL Draft Teams and their fans are still in the phase of admiring the newest players joining the team from the college ranks. The Raiders welcomed 11 new prospects from this year's draft. So, let's look back at how the whole thing went down and just who will be trading in their college jerseys for Silver & Black. So, let's recap! Day 1 Coming into the draft, there were reports that a team in the top ten of the draft was in love with Colorado's Travis Hunter and was eager to trade up for him. That team turned out to the the Jacksonville Jaguars a fifth overall. They traded up with the Browns at pick number two to get Hunter. More on this later... So, about that Jaguars trade up... It was widely assume that had the Jaguars been unable to trade up, Hunter would have went to the Browns and the Jags would then have taken Jeanty at five. But after the trade, the Browns opted for Michigan DT Mason Graham, leaving Jeanty there for the Raiders to take at six. In Jeanty the Raiders got the consensus third overall prospect in this draft. Running back was the Raiders' biggest need, so the fit was natural. And while they got some flak for drafting a running back this high, considering the devaluation of the position, there were few other players in this draft that were more of a need and value combination than Jeanty. Coverage: WATCH: 64 minutes of Ashton Jeanty running the ball Ashton Jeanty NFL Draft scouting report Ashton Jeanty instantly became NFL 2nd highest paid RB Marshawn Lynch was blowing up Pete Carroll's phone following Jeanty pick Ashton Jeanty recalls moment he knew Raiders were going to draft him Raiders brass attended Ashton Jeanty's pro day Day 2 The Raiders were on the clock at 37. But Raiders GM John Spytek saw the value in this draft in the third round. So, when they were on the clock, they received a couple calls, and took the offer they got from Miami. Dolphins receive: pick 37, pick 143 (round 5) Raiders receive: pick 48, pick 98 (round 3), pick 135 (round 4) When pick 48 came up, the Raiders got more calls, so they opted to trade down again. This time to the tail end of round two. Texans receive: pick 48 Raiders receiver: pick 58, pick 99 (round 3) And finally, at pick 58 the Raiders stayed and made the pick The next biggest need for the Raiders was wide receiver. And in Bech they get one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft, right around where he was expected to go. Bech was on my list of the top five best WR fits for Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's got a lethal combination of great hands and strength after the catch to fight through tackles. Coverage: Senior Bowl risers and fallers He is a former wide receiver, one of the biggest corners in this draft, and easily the most athletic. Including running a scorching 4.30 40. He comes to the Raiders as a perfect fit for Pete Carroll's defense, drawing comparisons to Legion of Boom great Richard. Sherman. As the end of the third came around, the Raiders had back-to-back picks to look forward to thanks to the two trades they made in the second round. There were reports in the days leading up to the draft that the Raiders top choice was Jeanty, but had he not been there, they would have shifted focus to offensive tackle. GM John Spytek likes drafting offensive linemen. And the Raiders could use the help. So, with the two additional picks, they doubled up on the line. Round 3, pick 98: Caleb Rogers, OG, Texas Tech Rogers was a four-year starting tackle at Texas Tech. But he was viewed as a guard at the next level. A lot of teams were looking closely at him as a great tackle-to-guard conversion in the mid-rounds. And so, with the first of their two low third rounders, the Raiders added some talent to the interior offensive line to hopefully open up some holes for Ashton Jeanty to run through. Coverage: Caleb Rogers hung up on Pete Carroll during draft call Round 3, pick 99: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary And in two picks, the Raiders addressed both of the need positions on the offensive line. They got their center in last year's draft (Jackson Powers-Johnson) along with tackle DJ Glaze. Now they get some competition at right tackle, with the loser taking the swing tackle job. The 49ers had the next pick and word is they were looking to draft one of either Rogers or Grant only to watch as their old NFC West rival Pete Carroll and their old Bay Area rival Raiders stole both of them. The Niners instead moved away from the line, taking CB Upton Stout. Coverage: Pete Carroll details specific roles for Raiders Day 2 picks Updated Raiders depth chart after first two days of NFL Draft Day 3 The Raiders came into the day having addressed each of their top five needs with their five picks on days two and three. That's a good feeling. So, they could start to build depth with their day three picks. After doubling up on the OL to end day two, they got another wideout to begin day three. And like the OL picks, Thornton is a very different type of receiver to round two pick Jack Bech. Bech is a versatile receiver, but he thrives as a big slot. Thornton is an X receiver. He is a deep threat. Also unlike Bech, Thornton is a raw physical talent. He's a towering 6-5 receiver who ran a blazing 4.3 40. He had just 26 catches last season at Tennessee, but averaged over 25 yards per catch. That's the kind of raw ability you take a chance on day three. The final piece to the trades the Raiders made in the second round was a move up from pick 143 in the fifth round to pick 135 in the fourth round. For Spytek, it was time to address the other side of the line. Hemingway is a tweener type of lineman. He played across the line at South Carolina. He was a day three pick mainly because he does several things well, but isn't ideal for any of them. He comes in at 284 pounds and has issues against the run. Which would limit his ability to play early downs. He can play defensive end, but he is a bit big for that role. So, the Raiders will need to find a role for him to make use of his interior pass rush abilities while not exposing his deficiencies against the run. The trade left the Raiders without a pick in round five. So, they had to wait until their original pick atop of round six. This former tight end converted to the defense, making him a work in progress. He is athletic enough that Lane Kiffin would use him as a wildcat quarterback and fullback. And he scored seven touchdowns in that role. But most likely the Raiders would prefer to have him carve out a primary role on the defensive line. He is certainly athletic enough. With the first of two round six compensatory picks, the Raiders grabbed a sleeper pick. Tommy Mellott led Montana State to the FCS National Champion ship game last season, but he wasn't considered a draftable quarterback. Thing is though, he is a supreme athlete with 4.39 speed and all the character traits the Raiders new regime values. Vegas as well as several other teams had Mellott on their radar for a move to receiver and return specialist. Just the type of player you take a chance on late in the draft. Hey, so about that FCS National Championship, the other quarterback in that game was this guy. And he was the winning QB. And in this case, the Raiders do like him as a quarterback prospect. The Raiders acquired Geno Smith in trade with the Seahawks to be their starter, which meant they weren't desperate to find a QB in this draft. But adding a QB in the draft was still a priority. Reports say they had interest in Alabama's Jalen Milroe. But as it happened, it was the pick the Raiders sent to Seattle for Geno Smith that was used to take Milroe six picks ahead of the Raiders late in the third round. So, if that's where the Raiders would have taken Milroe that option was out. They then passed on Will Howard four times because their sights were set on Miller. At this point in the draft, the only need position the Raiders had yet to address was linebacker. And they used their final pick to get LIndberg. Another longtime starter -- which seemed to be a theme with many of the Raiders selections -- he will compete for snaps at both linebacker spots, but most likely be a special teams guy in the short term. Following their final pick at 222, the Raiders immediately began working on signing undrafted free agents. You can see all the Raiders undrafted free agents here.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders depth chart after Day 1 of Free Agency
Day one of the Free Agent negotiating period -- aka Free Agency -- saw a lot of movement for the Silver & Black. Some players left the building (or soon will), some stayed, and some arrived (even if unofficially). This included all of the Raiders' top five free agents. After the dust settled on the first wave, here's what the depth chart would figure to look like if the season started today: OFFENSE Starters QB Geno Smith* Aidan O'Connell Carter Bradley RB Sincere McCormick Zamir White Dylan Laube Isaiah Spiller WR Ramel Keyton Krisitan Wilkerson Shedrick Jackson WR Jakobi Meyers Jeff Foreman Alex Bachman SWR Tre Tucker DJ Turner Tyreik McAllister Kyle Philips TE Brock Bowers Michael Mayer Justin Shorter LT Kolton Miller Dalton Wagner LG Alex Cappa* Jordan Meredith C Jackson Powers-Johnson Will Putnam RG Dylan Parham RT DJ Glaze Thayer Munford DEFENSE DT Christian Wilkins Jonah Laulu Tyler Manoa DT Adam Butler Matthew Butler Zach Carter ED Maxx Crosby Tyree Wilson Ovie Oghoufo DE David Agoha ED Malcolm Koonce K'Lavon Chaisson Charles Snowden Andre Carter II LB Elandon Roberts* Tommy Eichenberg Amari Gainer Jackson Mitchell LB Amari Burney Luke Masterson Kana'i Mauga Brandon Smith CB Jack Jones MJ Devonshire CB Jakorian Bennett Decamerion Richardson SCB Sam Webb Kyi Blu Kelly SS Jeremy Chinn* Thomas Harper Trey Taylor FS Isaiah Pola-Mao Lonnie Johnson Jr* Christopher Smith II SPECIAL TEAMS K Daniel Carlson P AJ Cole LS Jacob Bobenmoyer *New arrival QB Desmond Ridder RB Ameer Abdullah RB Alexander Mattison WR Terrace Marshall Jr TE Harrison Bryant T Andrus Peat G Cody Whitehair DT John Jenkins DE Jenarious Robinson LB Divine Deablo LB Marcus Epps CB Darnay Holmes This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders depth chart after Day 1 of Free Agency
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Raiders stars react to QB Geno Smith trade acquisition from Seahawks
Raiders stars react to QB Geno Smith trade acquisition from Seahawks LFG!!!!!!!!! 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️ — Maxx Crosby (@CrosbyMaxx) March 8, 2025 Today the Raiders made a somewhat expected move, but one that shook the NFL world none-the-less. They had been trying to acquire their new quarterback and that quarterback turned out to be Geno Smith, who they got in trade with the Seahawks for their pick at 73 overall in the third round. Immediately after the deal was done, a couple other Raiders who recently had other reasons to be excited took to social media to show their excitement over the move. First up was Maxx Crosby who is fresh off signing his big extension to make him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history. Making a lot of money is great, but Maxx wants to win. And adding a veteran QB like Smith is a big step in doing that. Then it was second-year offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson who showed his excitment. JPJ is fresh off an extreme vote of confidence by the Raiders. They released starting center Andre James, paving the way for Powers-Johnson to take over as the team's full time starting center. While no one wants to see players released, the move has a very obvious result in JPJ getting to line up at the position where he was named the best in all of college football in 2023, winning the coveted Rimington Award. Now JPJ knows who he will be snapping the ball to this coming season and it's a two-time Pro Bowler who led Pete Carroll's Seahawks to the playoffs in his first season as the full time starter in 2022. Plenty of reason to be excited if you're JPJ whose career is just beginning in Silver & Black.
