Raiders send message by waiting to draft QB — this is Geno Smith’s job
It took awhile, but the Raiders finally added a quarterback through the NFL draft when they selected North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller with their third sixth-round pick Saturday.
The fact that the club waited until the 215th overall pick to address quarterback revealed one of the big takeaways from the first draft under general manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll.
This is Geno Smith’s offense for the foreseeable future. That was the comfort zone the Raiders created when they traded for the veteran quarterback on the eve of free agency, then signed him to a contract extension that keeps him in Las Vegas through the 2027 season.
It doesn’t mean they won’t look for an heir apparent for the 35-year-old Smith — and it would be selling Miller short not to consider him a potential candidate — but after passing on the top quarterback prospects, it’s obvious Smith’s presence has reduced any urgency to force the issue.
As significant is the cohesion Spytek and Carroll have developed in their four months together. And how the chemistry between them has touched the entire building.
That was clear when Spytek made it a point to have Raiders college scouting director Brandon Yeargan alongside him during his postdraft news conference Saturday.
“He worked his ass off to get this thing lined up,” Spytek said as he discussed the 11-player draft class. “I thought he did an awesome job.”
Day three flurry
After drafting five players in the first 99 selections Thursday and Friday, including Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick in the first round and TCU wide receiver Jack Bech in the second with the 58th overall pick, the Raiders added six players Saturday in rounds four through seven.
That included Miller, who will slot alongside Smith and vie for a backup job against Aidan O’Connell and Carter Bradley.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 212-pound Miller was a four-year starter at North Dakota State and threw for 9,720 yards, 81 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in 67 games.
“He’s really competitive. Very tough. Very athletic,” Yeargan said. “I think when you watch the tape and when you get to meet the guy, he’s got some unique qualities in terms of leadership and football character.”
Ironically, the Raiders drafted Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott two picks before selecting Miller. The two squared off in the 2024 Football Championship Subdivision national championship game, with Miller’s Bison beating Mellott’s Bobcats 35-32 for their record 10th FCS title.
The 6-0, 200-pound Mellott is expected to move to wide receiver with the Raiders.
Focus on physical traits, versatility
The Raiders started the final day of the draft by taking Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton with their first fourth-round pick, No. 108 overall.
The 6-5, 205-pound Thornton, who played his first two seasons at Oregon, ran a 4.3 40 at the NFL scouting combine and averaged 21.9 yards per catch on his 65 career receptions. He caught 26 passes for 661 yards last season at Tennessee.
Thornton is one of the most explosive players in the draft, and with his size, he has a chance to develop into a matchup problem for defenses.
“We think he can still refine and improve under our coaches,” Yeargan said. “But he definitely has physical traits that are outstanding.”
With their second pick in the fourth round, No. 135 overall, the Raiders drafted South Carolina defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway. They doubled up on the interior with their next pick, No. 180 overall in the sixth round, by selecting Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues.
The Raiders’ final pick was Cody Lindenberg, a 6-2, 236-pound linebacker who played at Minnesota. He was taken in the seventh round, the 222nd overall pick.
Adding to the defensive line
Playing on a deep South Carolina line, the 6-3, 284-pound Hemingway lined up all over the Gamecocks’ defensive front for the past five seasons. He finished his career with 112 tackles, including 18 for loss, and showed a knack for getting to the quarterback by coming up with 9½ sacks.
“Being an athlete, quick twitch, and being able to use my IQ and getting an understanding of the game,” Hemingway said of his strengths. “I probably can fit in with any defense if I’m put in the right position to help the team.”
Pegues is another athletic defensive tackle who played multiple positions during a five-year college career that included two seasons at Auburn and three at Ole Miss.
The 6-2½, 309-pound Pegues was recruited to Auburn as a tight end, but moved to the defensive line as a sophomore. He blossomed after transferring to Ole Miss, where he recorded 110 tackles, including 27 for loss, and 10 sacks in 38 games.
Pegues adds additional versatility as a potential short-yardage running back, a role he increasingly played at Ole Miss the past three years. He ran for 69 yards and seven touchdowns on 21 carries last season. He also made 11 first downs as a runner.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.