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The Geno Smith trade changed the entire draft equation for the Las Vegas Raiders.
For the longest time, the Raiders drafting a quarterback in the first round seemed like a foregone conclusion. With Smith now on the roster, however, plans have changed dramatically. While it is still expected the Raiders will draft a signal-caller come April, they now have the flexibility to attack other positions during the draft.
However, another option is beginning to become an equally strong consensus for the sixth overall pick.
The Raiders are starting to be linked heavily to a top prospect.
According to several recent mock drafts, a similar selection is popping up for the Raiders at six: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
“There’s been legitimate smoke tying Ashton Jeanty to the Raiders throughout this process and I could see the old-school [Raiders head coach Pete] Carroll pulling the trigger,” said The Draft Network’s Justin Melo. “The offense finished dead last in rushing last season, averaging just 79.8 rushing yards per game. That will not appease Carroll, who believes in establishing the run. Jeanty would offer Chip Kelly’s offense a legitimate three-down workhorse in the backfield for Smith to lean on.”
Melo is far from the only draft analyst having the Raiders select the talented running back, however.
“The Raiders secured their quarterback of the near future, trading a third round pick for Geno Smith, and they add more offensive firepower with Ashton Jeanty,” wrote The 33rd Team’s James Foster. “Jeanty is a complete three-down back who’s a chore to bring down.”
When this many mock drafts contain the same result, it feels more and more as though Jeanty becoming a Raider is inevitable.
In fairness, Jeanty does line up with Carroll’s philosophy as a head coach. While the Raiders did sign Raheem Mostert in free agency, Carroll’s offenses have typically revolved around strong running games. Adding Jeanty to the equation gives Carroll his latest version of Reggie Bush and Marshawn Lynch.
According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Raiders apparently do see the fit as much as the analysts do.
“The Raiders, meanwhile, are certainly not done adding offensive weaponry to build around all-world rookie tight end Brock Bowers, and with the No. 6 pick in the draft, there is a contingent of Ashton Jeanty supporters within the organization,” wrote Schultz.
“In Marshawn Lynch, Carroll has already had tremendous success with a dominant, physically imposing running back. Perhaps Jeanty will be next.”
A running back has not been drafted in the top ten picks since the New York Giants drafted Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018. The Raiders and Jeanty could very well buck that trend.
More must-reads:
- How Cooper Rush's departure could affect Cowboys' draft plans
- Sam Darnold's contract with Seahawks may not be what it seems
- The 'Last 1,000+ rushing yard season for every NFL franchise' quiz
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Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark 'wishes' legendary HC Mike Tomlin would leave Pittsburgh amid turmoil
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL in Mike Tomlin. He's been one of the best in the league since taking over the team in 2007, but he has not won a Super Bowl since the 2008 season. Pittsburgh is a city that is used to winning Super Bowls, and it has been far too long since the team has looked like a legitimate threat to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The organization has been in a state of turmoil in recent years, and the late-season collapse to end 2024 has the fan base on edge when it comes to Tomlin. A large portion of the fan base was calling for Tomlin's job after Pittsburgh lost its final four games of the regular season and then got embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the postseason. As expected, Tomlin kept his job. He signed an extension ahead of the 2024 season, so the organization is financially committed to the coach for the foreseeable future. Many former players and people in the media defend Tomlin, as the belief is that he consistently overachieves with the roster he has. Someone who consistently defends Tomlin is Ryan Clark, his former player. Clark did that again during an appearance on "First Take," as he suggested Tomlin leave the organization on his own accord. "The fact that this team continues to be competitive, the fact that you can look at this roster and say in many places, 'Oh, they gotta get better there. Oh, they gotta get better there,'" Clark began to explain. "And the fact that this team, to me, at least early every season overachieves and Mike Tomlin gives you a chance to compete, but yet you want to go do something else. That's why I've been saying I wish they'd do it. I wish Mike Tomlin would walk into the office of Omar Khan and say, 'It's time for me to go have my Andy Reid second act. It's time for me to go somewhere else with a new, a new group of players in a new locker room that my voice will resonate with and go win more Super Bowls.'" Clark may have a bit of a bias toward Tomlin. The two were in Pittsburgh together for seven seasons, and the duo went to two Super Bowls and won one. The reality of the situation is that the Steelers have not been competitive enough to make it to a Super Bowl in over a decade, and a team led by Tomlin has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Clark references Andy Reid, who consistently had a competitive team as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He was never able to win a Super Bowl with Philadelphia, which led to him being fired. He was hired almost immediately by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he has had endless success. The same could happen for Tomlin, as he would be a hot commodity if he and Pittsburgh ever parted ways. Steelers' Mike Tomlin creates his own issues The excuse that he has overachieved with the talent on his rosters is invalid, as the head coach of 18 years has a lot of say in how the roster is constructed. He has almost complete say in who the organization brings in, as well as other roster moves. A down year every once in a while is completely understandable. However, not winning a playoff game in eight seasons is not. Some serious changes need to be seen in Pittsburgh as well as some results. Being competitive in the regular season is not enough, and the fan base is getting restless.
Former Oiler Warren Foegele has strong words against Edmonton in new interview
Former Oilers forward Warren Foegele appeared in a recent interview where he heavily leaned into the rivalry with his former team, going as far to say he hates the Edmonton Oilers. Foegele is one of a few former Oilers having a career year this season, and a player that Edmonton may be missing now. With the Los Angeles Kings, Foegele has been a great fit. Former Oilers forward says he hates his former team in new interview While playing up to the rivalry in a new video, Foegele said he now fully hates the Edmonton Oilers. He's clearly keeping it light and joking with the rivalry, but usually players don't take it as far as hate. I don't know, I'm part of it, like I hate them too. I hate the Oilers too, so it's just part of the game. - Warren Foegele Later on in the interview, Foegele did lighten up and show some love to his former teammates in Edmonton. In a hilarious moment, the Kings' interviewer showed Foegele a picture of him scoring against the Oilers, and in the background, Evan Bouchard can be seen smiling for one of his best friends. That's a great picture. That's me scoring against the Oilers. That's probably one of my best friends, Evan Bouchard, and he is caught smiling at me scoring! That's a good friend, for sure - Warren Foegele Warren Foegele thriving with more opportunity on the Los Angeles Kings The 28 year old forward seems to be settling in nicely both on and off the ice on his new team. After a career season in Edmonton last year, Foegele signed with the Kings for $3.5M a year and immediately posted even better numbers - currently with 19 goals and 37 points in 65 games. It's fun to see Foegele joining around with the rivalry between the Oilers and Kings, two teams who could once again meet in the playoffs. Judging by his comments here, Foegele may be one player uniquely motivated to beat Edmonton. Source for Warren Foegele stats: Warren Foegele - HockeyDB
Why did the Sabres trade Dylan Cozens to the Senators?
Dylan Cozens was traded by the Buffalo Sabres at the deadline, and now it appears the truth behind the deal has emerged, with the team potentially happy about it. The Sabres were taking interest in Cozens for some time, and at the deadline they finally traded him to the Senators, with many expecting him to breakout as a genuine star like so many other traded Sabres have done. However, that may not be the case this time, as Elliotte Friedman has unveiled the timeline behind these moves from general manager Kevyn Adams, and it appears as though the trade may have been a net positive for the room. Not only did the Sabres add a quality talent in Josh Norris, but after a meeting with captain Rasmus Dahlin, Adams moved on from Cozens, with the captain noting there's a much different (and better) vibe in the room as a result. It's unclear exactly what happened with Cozens in Buffalo that soured his effect on the locker room, but now that he's gone, it appears things have been much more upbeat with the current group. In three games since arriving in Buffalo, Cozens' replacement in Josh Norris has tallied a goal and an assist and posted a -2 differential while Cozens has taken a step forward on a Stanley Cup playoff team, so it appears as though this was potentially a move that helped both parties. Ultimately, this is a situation that the Sabres have unfortunately encountered many times during their lengthy rebuild, and in the hopes of improving things overall, Adams seemingly made the right call by moving Cozens, but for now, only time will tell how this ultimately plays out.
Ryan Reaves breaks silence after being sent down to Toronto Marlies
Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves is back on his way to the American Hockey League, and he's speaking out about it. Ryan Reaves, who is of a diminishing breed of hockey players known as the enforcer who doesn't contribute much offensively, has once again been sent down to the American Hockey League by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ryan Reaves may be off Maple Leafs but hasn't gone too far While it wasn't the best of news for him to receive, Reaves still likes to be involved with the team and be around his teammates, even if he's been demoted. "Everybody's got a role and my role is a little bit different," Reaves said. "I'm a guy who brings energy. But I try and still be involved when I'm not playing. I think it's important to show support, whether you're in the lineup or not. It goes a long way, in the playoffs especially. I just like to be around the boys. I don't like to be away from them." In early February, Reaves explained that he knew his role was diminishing but that he still enjoyed being a part of the team and bringing his brand of humor into the dressing room. "My role is a little different than a lot of guys on this team where I may not play big minutes or power play or penalty kill or any of that," Reaves said. "But I try and be a guy who keeps the room light, brings the boys together, makes sure there's time to have fun together at the right times. I think that's really important. The best teams I've been on are the teams that like to run together and have a really good time together and laugh together and can make fun of each other without it getting sensitive. I think that's a really important part of a winning team." Reaves was demoted ahead of the trade deadline as the team prepared to make a deal and his contract was way too much for the Maple Leafs to keep him in the lineup, especially with his lack of production. Reaves appeared in 35 games with the Leafs this year with a pair of assists and 28 PIM. In 912 career NHL games, Reaves has 137 points (63G, 74A) and exactly 1,100 PIM. He signed a three-year deal with the Leafs in 2023, and is under contract for an additional year with an AAV (average annual value) of $1,350,000.
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