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The Las Vegas Raiders had a productive draft, adding quality players to several positions on their roster, primarily on the offensive side of the ball. The Raiders revamped their skill positions on offense, adding players such as Ashton Jeanty, and Jack Bech.
While Bech projects to have a solid future with the Raiders, as he will be a part of an offense with plenty of talent, likely leaving him often single-covered, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN listed the Raiders' selection of Bech with the 58th-overall pick, as his most head scratching move of the draft.
"Bech has the ball skills and competitiveness to make a quick impact on the Las Vegas offense, and the Raiders had a solid draft in Spytek's first year at the helm. But several scouts from around the league -- even ones that really like Bech -- felt the second round was a bit high and the third round might have been a more sensible range," Fowler said.
Still, the Raiders have reason to be excited about Bech, who could develop into a significant contributor in Las Vegas.
According to the Draft Network, "Bech may not excite with the flash and explosiveness some of his counterparts display, but he is undoubtedly set to become a fantastic NFL player. The first thing that stood out to me is the sheer volume of opportunities he's been given in this TCU offense, working in all areas of the field. While he’s lined up primarily outside, he's also a go-to option on quick passes due to his physicality and ability to attack the ball."
"It's in the deeper areas of the field where Bech truly shines. He has a strong understanding of defenders' blind spots as well as the overall defensive structure. He’s quick to diagnose how he’s being covered, which allows him to exploit defensive backs' weaknesses. He also has the decisiveness to adjust his route at a moment’s notice. When the ball is in the air, Bech is at his best. Not only does he play with confident, aggressive hands, but Bech also is never covered. Even when he’s unable to fully separate from defenders, he remains a threat due to his ability to make contested catches in traffic and crowded spaces.
"What Bech lacks in speed and explosiveness, he compensates for with toughness and strength. With the ball in his hands, Bech consistently picks up crucial yardage by breaking tackles and keeping his legs churning."
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National Recruiting Service Believes Faizon Brandon and Tristen Keys AREN'T 5-Stars
The Tennessee Volunteers have found some success when it comes to the recruiting scene, as they landed many top targets on their board. This includes their two very top targets in the nation. Those two targets are their QB prospect Faizon Brandon, and WR prospect Tristen Keys, who originally committed to the LSU Tigers, but flipped from LSU to the Orange and White. Brandon has been the longest commit in the class, and has been listed as a No. 1 player in the nation by 247Sports, but they now have him as the No. 2 player and the No. 2 QB in the nation. As for Tristen Keys, he has been labeled a five-star by 247Sports. He remains a five-star along with Brandon, as he is now the 10th-ranked prospect in the state, but is also the No. 1 player at the wide receiver position. He has even been compared to some of the greats. National Recruiting Service Believes Faizon Brandon and Tristen Keys AREN'T 5-Stars While this is the case, it is safe to say that the Tennessee Vols' commits haven't been granted the same rankings by Rivals. This is an ongoing trend, as they have yet to earn their fifth star. While the Rivals industry rankings has Brandon as a five-star prospect, he isn't a five-star in the eyes of the Rivals staff ranking him. He is rated as the 34th best prospect in the nation in their eyes, which makes him a four-star prospect. For Keys, he is rated even lower. Keys is rated as the 39th player in the nation. This also makes him a four-star prospect. The Vols have zero five-stars in the rankings by Rivals, which fans have quickly pointed out to be a trend, as they believe this is a direct result of them being committed to the Tennessee Volunteers. There seems to be reason for fans to think that way, however, maybe they notice some things that others don't. All in all, it is safe to say that these two have very high expectations, and will be viewed as two hopeful stars in the offense. The Vols are very young, and that will be the case next year too, which has many hopeful that they will be able to contribute at a young age. This seems to be a fair ask, and something that could be accomplished. These two have set the example of what everyone hopes for on a class basis for the Vols.
Who's Next? West Virginia's Top Remaining Targets After the Commitment of Kevin Brown
Mavericks' Mark Cuban sends strong message on Anthony Davis, but he should change his tune
The Dallas Mavericks still believe they can make it work with forward Anthony Davis. Entering Wednesday, the Mavericks (4-11) were 13th in the Western Conference and had lost eight of their past 10 games. Amid the slow start, a report surfaced that the team would explore trading Davis. However, minority owner Mark Cuban shut down that rumor. Mark Cuban says the Mavericks aren't trading Anthony Davis "We won't. We want to try to win," Cuban said Wednesday in an email when asked if the Mavericks would trade Davis, via The Athletic's Joe Vardon. A healthy Davis would help Dallas win more games. In 14 seasons, the No. 1 pick of the 2012 NBA Draft has made 10 All-Star Games and won a championship. In five games this season, the 32-year-old veteran has averaged 20.8 PPG on an above-average 52% shooting from the field and recorded 10.2 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game. The problem, though, is that Davis is injury-prone. He has played in 75 regular-season games or more three times in his career. Since acquiring him in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, the oft-injured Davis has played in just 14 games for the Mavericks. He hasn't played since Oct. 29 because of a left calf strain, which will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days, per the team. Even when he has been playing, the Mavericks have still stunk. Dallas has a 2-3 record with Davis in the lineup. Davis was supposed to form a tandem with star guard Kyrie Irving that would keep the Mavericks in championship contention. That vision may not become a reality. Irving is still recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in March. While he's making progress, it's unclear if/when the 33-year-old star will return this season. Cuban sending the email is his way of reestablishing his authority within the organization. He's acting as an "adviser" to majority owner Patrick Dumont, who fired general manager Nico Harrison on Nov. 11. The unpopular former GM, of course, sent star guard Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Davis. Cuban helped the Mavericks make 18 playoff appearances and win one title before selling his majority stake in 2023. So, he certainly feels responsible for Dallas' lackluster product on the court. But the responsible thing would be admitting it may be time to trade Davis. The Mavericks aren't winning a title even if he stays healthy, which seems unlikely. And it would be wise to stockpile draft capital to build around rookie forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft.
Packers Receive Disappointing Injury News Before Vikings Matchup
Jayden Reed’s anticipated return to the practice field for the Green Bay Packers will have to wait a little longer. Despite some growing hope earlier this week that the dynamic wide receiver could begin the next phase of his recovery, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday that Reed will not open his 21-day practice window yet. “He’s not practicing today,” LaFleur said ahead of Sunday’s critical matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. When pressed for a clearer timeline on the second-year standout, who remains on injured reserve with collarbone and foot injuries, LaFleur deferred to the medical staff. “I don’t know. As soon as medical clears him, he’ll be out there,” LaFleur said. “I know he’s excited to get back. As am I.” The optimism had spiked in recent days. On Monday, LaFleur indicated there was a chance Reed and/or rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd could start their practice windows this week. Reed himself fueled the excitement Tuesday by sharing a photo of himself dressed in full uniform on social media. Those plans, however, are now on hold. Reed’s surgically repaired foot seems to have healed satisfactorily, but the collarbone—fractured on a diving attempt during the first half of Green Bay’s Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders—still needs additional time. For a wide receiver whose job involves regular physical contact and the risk of landing hard on the shoulder, the medical staff is requiring clear imaging evidence that the bone is strong enough before green-lighting a return. The cautious approach echoes the Packers’ handling of Aaron Rodgers’ similar collarbone injury in 2017, when the former quarterback sat out seven games while waiting for full healing. Nearly 10 weeks removed from the injury and having already missed eight contests, Reed could still require another one to two weeks before doctors are comfortable clearing him for football activities. That timeline keeps a potential return for the Thanksgiving night clash with the Detroit Lions or the following week against the Chicago Bears realistically in play. Before the injury, Reed had established himself as Green Bay’s top receiving weapon. He paced the team in receiving yards in both 2023 and 2024, and in the two games he played this season while managing the foot issue, he recorded three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. The Green Bay Packers will continue their Week 12 preparations without their leading wideout on the practice field, with LaFleur and the organization prioritizing full recovery over a rushed comeback.
Scout shares take on why Vikings' J.J. McCarthy has struggled with accuracy this season
Second-year Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has mostly played like a work in progress when healthy and on the field this fall. For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano pointed out that McCarthy is "obviously missing too many throws" at this stage of his development. Graziano spoke with an unnamed "scout with another team" to learn more about McCarthy's struggles. Are Vikings panicking about J.J. McCarthy? "McCarthy's throwing at only one speed -- all fastballs -- and attributed that to trying to be the hero in a situation where he knows his team is counting on him to help it win," Graziano said about his chat with the scout. "The general sense I get from inside the Vikings' building and out is that he just needs time and reps." The Vikings made McCarthy a first-round draft pick in the spring of 2024, but he then spent his entire rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. More recently, what became a lingering ankle injury limited McCarthy to just five starts over Minnesota's first 10 games of the ongoing campaign. According to Pro Football Reference, McCarthy began Wednesday ranked last in the league among qualified players with a 52.9 percent completion percentage, a 26.6 adjusted QBR and a 61.7 passer rating for the season. Nevertheless, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said in Wednesday's article that the Vikings really have "no choice" but to stick with McCarthy over undrafted free agent Max Brosmer. Veteran Carson Wentz previously started when McCarthy was sidelined with the ankle issue, but Wentz has since had season-ending shoulder surgery. What Vikings like about J.J. McCarthy amid struggles "The accuracy is a concern," Fowler added about McCarthy. "There's no hiding from that. Balls are sailing, and that affects the entire offense. McCarthy needs to hit the layups. The Vikings will be working to help him find more consistency as a thrower. From a developmental standpoint, the team still believes in his work ethic and skill set." For what it's worth, McCarthy tossed a go-ahead touchdown pass versus the Chicago Bears with under a minute to play in this past Sunday's matchup between the clubs. He then could only watch as Chicago's Cairo Santos kicked a walk-off game-winning field goal. 4-6 Minnesota next plays at the rival Green Bay Packers (6-3-1) this coming Sunday. As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the Vikings as 6.5-point underdogs for that game.
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