Let’s get you caught up on all the Las Vegas Raiders musings from this week, including some familiar faces popping up in different places. Also, it appears that many “draft experts” are beginning to see Ashton Jeanty as the consensus pick for the Silver and Black next month at the NFL draft.
Jerry Tillery, remember him, Raider Nation?
Tillery seems to be back in the AFC West; sure, this will create some attention as he is joining the Kansas City Chiefs. It also represents his third team out West throughout the previous four years.
Jerry Tillery Jr. (@JerryTillery) goes “two to one” with the long arm, then uses the inside hand placement of the long arm to counter snatch/swim the off-balanced blocker & pressure the QB! #passrush #raiders #raidernation pic.twitter.com/wpIhgKt1hu
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) December 5, 2022
Jerry Tillery, a former first-round pick who was selected 28th overall, struggled to establish himself with the Chargers. After three underwhelming seasons, the team declined his fifth-year option. By the middle of his fourth season, they had seen enough and cut ties completely, waiving him before his rookie deal was even up. The Raiders swooped in, claiming him off waivers and even giving him another year to prove himself.
During his 25-game stint in Silver and Black, Tillery managed 41 tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for a loss. But after the 2023 season, the Raiders moved on—that’s when the Vikings gave him a shot. Despite starting 11 games—his most since 2021—his production dipped significantly. He concluded the season with a mere 28 tackles, zero sacks, and only one tackle for a loss. Unsurprisingly, the Vikings let him walk.
Now, Tillery is back in the AFC West, hoping for a fresh start with the Chiefs. As a late free-agent signing, he’s surely grateful for another opportunity, but the real question is: can he make the most of it?
Former Raiders draft busts getting a shot in the United Football League
Most often, a player’s career ends when they fail to meet high expectations due to their draft status. For the Raiders, there’s a litany of such players who have come and gone these past 20 years–you could argue that the Raiders have enough busts to fill up their own unemployment office. Nonetheless, other venues such as the UFL do give some of these athletes an opportunity to continue practicing their craft.
If you’re a Raiders fan, you’ll be delighted to see many familiar faces on the rosters the league has revealed for the upcoming season. Take a look at the following:
- Damon Arnette, CB, Houston Roughnecks
- Obi Melifonwu, LB, Memphis Showboats
- P.J. Hall, DL, Memphis Showboats
- Tyree Gillespie, DB, Michigan Panthers
- Marquette King, P, Arlington Renegades
Should Ashton Jeanty be the pick for the Raiders?
In recent days, the discussion about Jeanty has intensified within the Raiders Twitter/X community. Do Raiders fans want a running back in the first round? What if he’s a generational prospect?
Whenever a Raiders fan says that Ashton Jeanty isn’t a generational prospect pic.twitter.com/3QKKTqkplJ
— RaiderRamble.com™ (@TheRaiderRamble) March 21, 2025
Well, fandom aside, many “experts” are indeed predicting Jeanty will be the Silver and Black’s selection when it’s all said and done next month.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah unveiled their latest mock drafts, and both predict the Raiders will take Boise State’s star running back with the sixth overall pick. Whether this is a testament to his seamless fit in Las Vegas or a hint at inside knowledge of the Raiders’ actual intentions remains a mystery.
There is little debate over Jeanty’s standing as the premier running back in this draft class—perhaps even the best prospect at the position in recent years. His production at Boise State was nothing short of historic, amassing 2,601 rushing yards last season alone. Oh, and he scored 29 touchdowns—that’s right, 29 freaking times. His ability suggests he is more than capable of making a smooth transition to the professional level.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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