Las Vegas goes low-profile at position
The Las Vegas Raiders visited and scouted with most of the top quarterback prospects leading up the this weekend’s draft.
They were expected to take on in the early rounds to groom behind new starter Geno Smith.
But, in the end, it was clear that the Raiders agreed with the notion that it was a weak overall class, so they bypassed the higher profile names and went the developmental route in the sixth round by taking small-school stars.
At No. 213, they took Montana State’s Tommy Mellott and at No. 215, they took North Dakota State’s Cam Miller. The two squared on if the FCS championship game last year.
Mellott, the Walter Payton Award winner (FCS Player of the Year), is expected to move to wide receiver, although he can plays several positions and including Wildcat at the next level.
Miller is expected to stick at quarterback. Like Mellott, he is dual threat. Miller threw for3,251 yards, 33 touchdowns and had four interceptions last season. He ran for 48 touchdowns in his career.
He is no sure thing to make the 53-man roster, but he will compete with Aidan O’Connell (if he’s nor traded) and Carter Bradley in training camp. The Raiders visited with Miller and think he is worth getting into their program
So, a high=profile draft process came and went with the Raiders opting for a little-known prospect. Thus, they will look to draft Smith’s eventual starter in a coming draft.
The Raiders passed on Shedeur Sanders nine time (seven picks and two trades) before the Cleveland Browns finally ended his unreal slide in the fifth round. The Raiders had long been rumored to have interest in Sanders and he has a relationship with part owner Tom Brady. But, clearly Las Vegas had no interest.
The Raiders also passed on Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. He was connected to the Raiders because he played for Chip Kelly in Columbus last season. He went to Pittsburgh in the sixth round.
The Raiders visited with Texas’ Quinn Ewers, but decided against drafting him. Miami drafted him 16 picks after the Raiders drafted Miller,
It was the 11th straight draft that the Raiders didn’t take a quarterback in the first three rounds, which, according to The Associated Press, is the second longest current streak in the league behind Dallas’ 25 drafts. The Raiders last top three-round quarterback? None other than Derek Carr, who was taken in the second round in 2014.
