Raiders' plan to make rookie switch positions is already looking good based on his minicamp performance
Position switches happen all the time in the NFL. Sometimes, guys come in from college, and a certain NFL team thinks that player would be better suited to play a different position, whereas in college, he may have been forced to play something else because the team so desperately needed it. The Las Vegas Raiders […]
Position switches happen all the time in the NFL. Sometimes, guys come in from college, and a certain NFL team thinks that player would be better suited to play a different position, whereas in college, he may have been forced to play something else because the team so desperately needed it. The Las Vegas Raiders have already made a rookie switch in positions.
Tommy Mellott, the rookie from Montana State, is a quarterback, make no doubt about it. You don't get the nickname Tommy Touchdown by not being a good quarterback. But the Raiders think he would not only have a better chance at seeing the field as a wide receiver, but they also think it could really help his NFL career get kicked off.
Mellott played FCS football for Montana State, where he dominated pretty much every single game he played in. But, that's FCS football, which in many cases is below even the lowest of FBS football, even schools that you won't see on TV much that play FBS football, even some of the competotion is worse at the FCS level. But, that doesn't mean Mellott isn't good or that he can't play.
The Raiders believe that he can play wide receiver in the NFL. They believe that they can do what the New England Patriots did for Julian Edelman, a college QB turned pro WR, who actually ended up winning a Super Bowl MVP trophy.
Now, sure, that was a rare-case that hasn't happened that often. But, the Raiders really believe there is something there, or they would not have used a draft pick to get Mellott. If they thought there was a big chance it didn't work out that way, Las Vegas likely would have tried to sign Mellott as a UDFA.
The Raiders' 2025 rookie minicamp started this weekend, and we've already seen clips of Mellott doing some WR-type things, like running routes and doing other drills. And, let's just say, he looks the part. He has a very fluid movement to his game when he's getting in and out of his breaks, and a twitch that looks like it could be a bit dangerous for defenders to try and defend.
Now, this is practice without pads on against no defense. But, man, does Mellott look good.