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The Las Vegas Raiders have already had an exciting offseason, and the 2025 NFL Draft is still about a week away. Las Vegas has overhauled the organization in just one offseason, hiring Pete Carroll as head coach and trading for QB Geno Smith. Now the Raiders are ready to add even more talent during the 2025 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Ben Solak made a bold claim about Las Vegas in a recent article. Solak suggested the possibility that the Raiders should pass on RB Ashton Jeanty in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“They can [pass on Jeanty], because the biggest need on the roster is cornerback, and Will Johnson(Michigan) is staring them down — he might even be available with a small trade-back, if that suits their fancy,” Solak wrote on Wednesday.
The Raiders do have a terrible cornerback room. If the 2025 season started today, Las Vegas would start Jakorian Bennett, Decamerion Richardson, and Darnay Holmes at cornerback.
Will Johnson is one of the better cornerback prospects in this year’s draft class. However, it is hard to imagine the Raiders choosing him over a blue-chip talent like Jeanty.
Jeanty is the perfect fit in a Raiders offense that needs plenty of juice. Many NFL draft analysts are excited about the possibility of Jeanty landing in Vegas because of Pete Carroll’s history of establishing the run. In fact, Field Yates even suggested that Jeanty could make the Pro Bowl as a rookie if he lands with the Raiders.
If the Raiders pass on Jeanty, it would send shockwaves through the NFL.
Can the Raiders draft Ashton Jeanty and upgrade their defense during the 2025 NFL Draft?
The Raiders will certainly need to make a few concessions if they want to draft Ashton Jeanty. But will drafting Jeanty put the rest of the roster in jeopardy for the 2025 season?
Solak explained how the Raiders might be able to have their cake and eat it too.
“If Jeanty is the selection at No. 6, the Raiders must double-dip on Day 2 in the defensive backfield,” Solak wrote. “The good news is the second day of the draft is rife with starters in the secondary. Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina) has prototypical traits for a Pete Carroll corner, as does Darien Porter (Iowa State) at the Round 3/Round 4 turn. Nohl Williams (Cal) and Jacob Parrish (Kansas State) can both play the physical game required from NFL slots, while still bringing impactful coverage ability.”
Ultimately, the Raiders’ secondary is bad enough that adding one player like Will Johnson is not enough to fix it overnight.
Las Vegas would be wise to trust the wisdom of the crowd and draft a legitimate superstar in Ashton Jeanty.
More must-reads:
- Browns HC gives troubling Shedeur Sanders update ahead of Eagles game
- NFL under fire for decision on Chiefs WR Rashee Rice
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
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It's a good thing for the NFL that it uses a shield as its logo, because this week, the league needed protection. The courts handed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a second defeat since Monday with a ruling in Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores' anti-discrimination lawsuit against the league. On Thursday, per ESPN, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld a previous ruling in Flores' case, originally filed on Feb. 1, 2022, allowing it to proceed to trial. In a written statement, the appeals court blasted the NFL's arbitration process, which allows Goodell to make decisions unilaterally, saying "It offends basic presumptions of our arbitration jurisprudence." The judges also argued that the NFL's process equates to "arbitration in name only." It was the second time this week that Goodell's role as chief arbiter has come under scrutiny in U.S. courts. On Monday, the Nevada Supreme Court described the NFL's argument that Jon Gruden's lawsuit should be handled through arbitration led by Goodell as "unconscionable." In his original claim, Gruden alleged the NFL and Goodell leaked emails to the press, which led to his resignation as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in October 2021. The dual rulings against the league are the biggest hits its flawed arbitration process has taken. It's never made sense for the commissioner to arbitrate matters he's already decided after handing down punishments. Those situations should be left to an impartial party. Goodell was granted his unlimited authority in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, which positioned him as the NFL's judge, jury and executioner. The Gruden and Flores developments are illustrative of the fact that the league and NFLPA went too far in granting Goodell such wide-sweeping authority. The recent court rulings acknowledge the flaw in the NFL's system. That shield just added a few more dents.
Pete Alonso gets awesome gift from Mets after breaking HR record
Pete Alonso is officially the New York Mets' all-time home run king, and the team has pulled out all the stops while crowning its slugger. Alonso hit the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career in the team's 13-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. He surpassed previous franchise record-holder Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the Mets from 1983-1990. Prior to Thursday night's game against the Braves, the Mets presented Alonso with a custom painting that was made from 253 baseballs. The portrait shows Alonso in the home-run trot from his 253rd homer. That was not the only gift the Mets had for Alonso, either. They also gave him a new Ford F-150 truck. Alonso entered free agency last offseason but did not generate as much interest as he had hoped. He wound up returning to the Mets on a two-year, $54M deal. The second year is a player option, and Alonso is widely expected to opt out. One Mets player suggested that Alonso's new home run record could inspire the 30-year-old to re-sign with the team, but New York would have to pay up to make that happen. Alonso entered Thursday batting .272 with 28 home runs and an MLB-leading 98 RBI. His relationship with the Mets seems strong at the moment, and the gifts may have helped solidify it even further. That does not mean Alonso is going to offer any type of hometown discount.
Red Sox should consider adding former World Series champion 1B
Since Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas was lost for the season with a knee injury in early May, the combo of Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez has held down the position in Boston. Gonzalez, in particular, has consistently produced offensively, posting a .305 batting average and .893 OPS across 63 games entering Thursday. He's especially seen lefties well, slashing .357/.407/.673 with six homers across 108 plate appearances against southpaws. Toro has been serviceable, at best, with a .689 OPS batting from both sides of the plate. Luckily, a former World Series champion suddenly became available on Thursday and could be a formidable platoon partner with Gonzalez. The Washington Nationals surprisingly designated first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment on Thursday, despite launching a grand slam less than 24 hours before in a win against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The Nationals traded for Lowe in December, bringing an experienced voice, a former Gold Glove winner and a postseason veteran to the young club. Lowe has been fairly productive overall this season, popping 16 home runs and driving in 68 runs, both second on the Nationals, over 119 games. Still, thanks in large part to a dreadful second-half slump, his batting average has sunk to a career-worst .216, and he has struck out at a 26.5% rate. Despite being mired in a slump since the All-Star break, Lowe's career resume should take precedent in any evaluation by the Red Sox. During his four seasons with the Texas Rangers, Lowe earned a Silver Slugger award in 2022 before playing a key role in their first World Series title in franchise history in 2023. Since debuting in 2019, Lowe has hit .264 while averaging 20 homers, 25 doubles and 80 RBI per 162 games. He could be a real asset in the Red Sox's lineup as they make a playoff push. Boston holds the second American League wild-card spot with a 66-56 record.
Rams' update on QB Matthew Stafford isn't promising
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