New Las Vegas regime talks about draft preparation
New Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll met with media members Friday to talk about next week’s NFL draft.
Predictably, they didn’t share too much in terms of plans, but let’s look at key highlights from the session:
- While it’s not directly a trade topic, the Kolton Miller situation is the biggest topic of the team at the moment. He is reportedly staying away from the voluntary workout program because he wants a new contract as he is entering the final season of his deal. The team reportedly isn’t engaging Miller, who turns 30 in October, in extension talks despite having plenty of salary-cap room. Spytek declined to address whether the team will plan to talk to Miller about a deal. That is not surprising, but it won’t end speculation that the team could trade Miller and draft an offensive tackle early. For what it’s worth, Spytek again mentioned he likes building in trenches.
- Both Spytek and Carroll talked about how well they are working together and how their draft philosophy is in lockstep. Spytek said he thinks there is good depth in the draft and he thinks some of the deeper positions matches up with the team’s needs across the board and he and Carroll are on the same page in that area. Carroll said this: “We’re wide open and possible and think we’ll make great decisions. We’re in connected in that (thinking).” Carroll said he feels fortunate the franchise put him and Spytek together. Spytek said both he and Carroll are looking for competitive players with hunger and love of the game and they want players with strong character.
- Asked who has final say on picks, Carroll said “we will work it out. All you need to know.” Spytek noted if he and Carroll don’t agree on a certain player, that player likely won’t be selected. These two have taken this approach since they were hired in January.
- Asked about if the Raiders will take a quarterback after trading a third-round pick (No. 92) to the Seattle Seahawks for new starter Geno Smith, Spytek said yes, the Raiders will have interest in adding a quarterback at some point. He admitted that they brought in several quarterbacks for visits and that wasn’t by accident.
- The Raiders have been connected by many in the media to Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty at No. 6. Spytek (Carroll told him to “be careful” when asked), wouldn’t talk specifically about Jeanty or any player. Yet, he pointed out that Saquon Barkley had a huge impact on the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in his first season there and that he has no problem taking a running back early. For what it’s worth, Spytek was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and they took running back Bucky Irving in the fourth round and he had a big rookie campaign.
- Spytek said the team was wide open when it comes to staying put or trading up or down throughout the draft. He did say that he is happy with nine picks and that if the Raiders had just four picks, he may feel the need to make more trades.
- Asked his approach to pick the best player available or for needs, Spytek said he likes to use a combination and doesn’t like to go solely for need because that can lead to trouble. Basically, that is what most GM’s publicly say. The point is, every draft and every pick is different, so being flexible is the key.
- Asked if part owner Tom Brady will be in the war room during the draft, Spytek said he doesn’t know the plan of ownership, but Carroll said they will have chairs ready for everyone. The scouts, Spytek, will be in the war room. That isn’t always the case around the league. Spytek is a former scout and clearly he values their opinions.
- Spytek has a feeling the top of the second round Friday could be particularly active on the trade front.