Las Vegas Raiders should send thanks and appreciation to one AFC general manager
The draft is pretty far behind us, but let's take it back a bit and see just how the Las Vegas Raiders got so lucky, even though they didn't get the position they needed most. The Raiders made a pick at No. 13 that shocked a lot of people – then again, the entire first […]
The draft is pretty far behind us, but let's take it back a bit and see just how the Las Vegas Raiders got so lucky, even though they didn't get the position they needed most. The Raiders made a pick at No. 13 that shocked a lot of people – then again, the entire first round was pretty shocking.
It all started at pick No. 8. The Atlanta Falcons were on the clock and about to do the craziest thing we had seen in years. After giving Kirk Cousins a huge contract in free agency, which is fully guaranteed through 2025, they decided they should draft quarterback Michael Penix at No. 8.
The Raiders were not able to trade up for QB Jayden Daniels, who went No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders, as most of us thought he would. Their next prospect, or top prospect, I should say, was Penix, as quarterback is their biggest need. So, when that happened, you can assume they had cornerback and offensive tackle on their mind.
The Raiders took the best player available, which also just so happened to be the best overall player in the entire draft in Brock Bowers. He is the consensus best player in the class, he just plays a position that isn't viewed as an important one compared to the quarterback position. And, somehow, the Raiders got him at pick No. 13.
When you think about it all, it's kind of crazy, and it's even crazier now that the NFL has released video of other teams' green rooms, and general managers talking about targeting certain players.
The NFL's Twitter account posted a video of the Los Angeles Rams trying to move up from pick No. 19 to pick No. 10 because they wanted to draft Brock Bowers. There was legit interest there. When they called the New York Jets general manager, Joe Douglas, who has the No. 10 pick, the Jets were not interested in trading back.
Obviously, how things went – the Jets got their guy, the Rams still got their guys, and the Raiders got Bowers. However, had the Jets made that trade, which would have also given them the No. 52 pick, the Rams could have taken Bowers.
So, to keep things short, fans and the franchise can send Douglas some appreciation for saving the Raiders draft pick.
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