Raiders trade down, draft three grinders on Day 2

Turnovers are the point

When Stukes talked about himself, he talked in contradictions that make sense in the NFL. Speed and violence. Range and contact. He said the speed comes from training, while the hitting comes from choice.

“The speed comes from a physical standpoint,” Stukes said. “Bringing that thump is more of a mentality.”

Then he explained what he actually chases on Sundays. Not highlight clips. Not vibes. Possessions.

“Every time that ball’s in the air, I want to get it back for our offense,” Stukes said. “Scoring points wins games.”

Stark said that mindset shows up before the snap as much as it does after the throw.

“Traydan’s a very intelligent football player,” Stark said. “He also was a really good communicator on the field.”

Stark called Stukes a late bloomer and said he will compete to play immediately, then landed on the point the front office keeps repeating.

“As talented he is, he’s that good or better of a person,” Stark said.

Crawford’s late start, early edge

A few hours later, the Raiders took a different kind of bet at No. 67. Keyron Crawford’s story is not the one most pass rushers bring into the league. He has only been playing football for five years, and the Raiders see that as runway, not a red flag.

“Key’s only been playing five years,” Spytek said. “He can rush the passer and he plays his tail off.”

Crawford sounded like a player who still feels like he is catching up, and who likes that feeling. He described his celebration, a jump into a pool, as something he planned in advance, and the emotion as something closer to relief than shock.

“It was more so like a relief,” Crawford said. “I was just really happy as hell.”

A pass rusher who still thinks he’s chasing

Asked about upside, he said the league has not seen his full game yet.

“My ceiling still being able to grow, still develop, still learn,” Crawford said. “They know they going to get a dog.”

Stark backed that up by describing a player who sees the same unfinished picture the Raiders see.

“He knows he’s not at his ceiling,” Stark said. “He’s far from it yet.”

The Raiders also made clear why they wanted another edge presence, even with Maxx Crosby already headlining the room. Spytek framed it like a coach, not a spreadsheet.

“I don’t know the places I’ve been where you have really good pass rushers that keep hitting quarterbacks, you’ve got a chance,” Spytek said. “Key helped us there.”

Crawford did not hide what he wants from Crosby, either. He said he plans to study him closely.

“I’mma pick in the ins and out everything about him,” Crawford said.

Spytek liked the respect, but made sure Crawford heard the other message too.

“I would encourage Key to be his own person, too,” Spytek said.

Zuhn blocks first, asks questions later

By the time the Raiders got to their final Day 2 pick, they turned to the offensive line and found a player whose answers sounded like he already knew the pitch: versatility, toughness, and readiness to do whatever is asked. Trey Zuhn III entered the night announced as a guard, but he spoke like a five-position lineman.

“I’m comfortable playing all five positions at the highest level,” Zuhn said. “Whatever they need me to play to get on the field is what I’m going to play.”

Spytek said the Raiders saw the versatility in person during the season, including a game where Zuhn moved across the line against high-end competition.

“We went to the Miami Texas A&M game this year and we watched Trey play center, left tackle,” Spytek said. “He moved all around that game against a pretty damn good front.”

Five spots, one mindset

Zuhn also sounded like a player who already knows why he landed in Las Vegas. He praised the fit in Klint Kubiak’s system and said he is eager to learn from offensive line coach Rick Dennison.

“There’s not a better system I could play for that I could ask for,” Zuhn said. “I’m just so excited and so honored to get to play for him.”

Asked what he brings, he went to traits coaches trust and teammates feel.

“My consistency and my quick feet,” Zuhn said. “I’m a smart player. I love to learn the playbook.”

Stark boiled the evaluation down even further. “All he does is block people, which is what you want those guys to do,” he said.

Spytek added the line that will stick with any fan who wants immediate help up front.

“Started 54 games in the SEC,” Spytek said. “All he did was block the guy in front of him.”

And because every Raiders draft conversation now runs through the quarterback room, Zuhn was asked about protecting No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. He did not pretend familiarity. He promised urgency.

“I can’t wait to meet him and I can’t wait to protect him back there,” Zuhn said.

The theme is not subtle

Day 2 was not flashy. It was pointed. A trade that assumed confidence. A defensive back who talks like turnovers are the job. A pass rusher who sounds like he is still chasing the sport. A lineman who wants the playbook yesterday and does not care where he lines up.

They traded smart, picked tough, and sounded like a team that knows what it wants. Now the only question is how many more players fit that same mold.