Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Raiders Called Out for 'Head-Scratching' Draft Pick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated May 6, 2025 1:15 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders have been praised at length for their performance in the 2025 NFL Draft. Many felt that new general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll landed the perfect blend of Week 1 starters, solid depth pieces and players with elite traits who have plenty of upside to tap into.

While the roster still needs tons of work, it is massively improved from last year's four-win team. The Raiders may not be a serious contender this season, but the new regime in Las Vegas is building the franchise the right way and positioning itself for a run in the coming years.

Not every pick in the draft was considered a homerun, however. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler asserted that the Raiders' selection of TCU wideout Jack Bech in the second round was the 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," Fowler wrote. "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."

At the end of the day, it only really matters what the Las Vegas brass thought about Bech if they are the team that is selecting him. Besides the point is the fact that Bech was taken with the No. 58 pick, which is the end of the second round and just a few spots from the third round anyway.

Based on his track record and toughness, everything that Las Vegas wants out of Bech should come to fruition. Bech has a great chance to be a Week 1 starter for the Raiders, and if he can produce as a rookie, all doubters of this pick will be silenced.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: