The 2025 draft class spoke to the media after their first NFL practices and practices under Carroll during rookie minicamp
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ 2025 NFL Draft class got their collective feet wet in the NFL over the weekend, participating in their first practices as professionals during the Raiders’ rookie minicamp.
Las Vegas’ first four selections: running back Ashton Jeanty, wide receiver Jack Bech, cornerback Darien Porter and offensive lineman Caleb Rogers, spoke to the media on Friday and weighed in on their initial impressions of playing for the Raiders’ new head coach Pete Carroll.
Q: What have been your early impressions of being around Pete Carroll in the facility and out here at practice?
Jeanty: “Yeah, he’s dope. He is everything everybody says he is – attention to detail, just a great coach, great energy, great personality, and I’m excited to continue building a relationship with him.”
Q: There’s still a little bit of a debate about how your horse game went against Pete Carroll. Have you guys had a rematch to settle it? Where does that stand now?
Jeanty: “No, we ain’t had a rematch yet, but I’m sure in the near future, he’ll put me back on the hoops.”
Q: What was your first impression of an NFL practice and playing under Pete Carroll?
Bech: “You’ve got to be conditioned. You’ve got to run, especially being a receiver, you have to be able to run all day. And I think obviously, conditioning on your own and football conditioning, it’s a little different. But as you practice more and more, the better you get in football condition. So like I said, I’m just excited to keep coming out here and keep learning under one of the greatest coaches ever, and keep sharpening not only my physical skill set, but my mental skill set too.”
Q: Did you see Pete Carroll practicing his back pedal warmups? What do you think of him bringing that kind of enthusiasm to rookie minicamp?
Porter: “I think it’s awesome to have your head coach out there giving you that one-on-one, or with the other cornerbacks, giving you those kinds of tips with his gloves on. He’s out there working on his press. So, it’s funny, but I really appreciate it. And to see that kind of energy at rookie minicamp early in the process is awesome.”
Q: What can you say about those standards that Pete Carroll has been setting for this group so far out here, and how the group has embraced it?
Rogers: “One, I mean you can tell Pete Carroll has been doing this forever, so it’s amazing to be able to play for him. And so, he’s very backed by his knowledge and where he’s been and what he’s done. And so, when he’s giving his standards, the way he’s telling us how it’s going to be, he’s also backing it with where he’s been and how he’s done it before. And so, it’s really easy for all of us to buy in, and I mean he makes it exciting, so it’s even easier.”
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Derek Carr retires: the Raiders’ franchise passing leader and former Saints quarterback is calling it a career after suffering a shoulder injury.
- Mailbag: this week’s column focuses on an offseason review, including what grade Carroll and general manager John Spytek deserve.
- Jeff Foreman waived: the wide receiver was released with a failed physical, the team announced on Friday. He was a 2024 undrafted free agent from Arkansas State who got injured during training camp last year.
- Aidan O’Connell likely safe: “It would be a surprise if the quarterback wasn’t on the roster,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore wrote. “…The Raiders also waited until the sixth round of the NFL draft to select a quarterback…which likely means O’Connell will be the club’s No. 2 quarterback behind [Geno] Smith,”