Silver Minings: Raiders rank top 10 in draft capital used on running backs, per report

Raiders rank 9th in draft capital used since 2018, according to Warren Sharp

We’re patiently awaiting the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, which is less than a week away, and Warren Sharp dropped an interesting piece of information about how teams have approached the draft when it comes to running backs.

According to Sharp’s study, the Las Vegas Raiders have used the ninth-most draft capital on running backs since 2018. In that time frame, the organization has only spent three draft picks on running backs — Josh Jacobs, Zamir White and Brittain Brown — but using a first-rounder on Jacobs in 2019 is what pushes them up the list. Especially since the trend in recent years has been to avoid the position on Day 1.

Heading into next week’s draft, Las Vegas could use another back so, will they continue to use a high amount of capital at the position?

That seems unlikely, partially because they have White atop the depth chart, re-signed Ameer Abdullah and signed Alexander Mattison in free agency. Also, there’s a new regime in place and new general manager Tom Telesco hasn’t used a ton of draft capital at running back in recent years.

The Chargers ranked toward the bottom of Sharp’s list, coming in at No. 26. Since 2018, Telesco has drafted five backs — Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley, Larry Roundtree, Isaiah Spiller and Zander Horvath — but none of them were selected before Day 3 of the draft. Also, three out of those five were sixth- or seventh-rounders.

Granted, Los Angeles had Austin Ekeler leading the way during that time, so they never had a pressing need to add someone in the backfield. Still, it’s not as if the Raiders are desperate for a running back, making it difficult to see Telesco using a high-value pick on a running back next weekend.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Could Joe Philbin’s draft connections lead to picks?: “New Las Vegas Raiders senior offensive assistant Joe Philbin spent the 2023 season at Ohio State as an offensive analyst,” writes S&BP’s Bill Williamson. “That could give the Raiders an advantage in the draft. Philbin knows the Buckeyes’ talents well and he could give the team insight into them.”
• The case for Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew: “But for as much as Antonio Pierce may loathe the “Band-Aid” solution and wanting to find the face of the franchise for the next decade at the all-important quarterback position, the Raiders find themselves in quite the limbo spot picking No. 13 overall,” says S&BP’s Ray Aspuria. “The Silver & Black are highly likely out of reach for the top prospects at signal caller with a predicted run of three or four quarterbacks going in the top 10, if not top 5.”
• Trade Malcolm Koonce to Atlanta?: “The Falcons would move down five spots and add another third-round pick to their collection,” ESPN’s Bill Barnell wrote. “…Teams can never have too many pass-rushers, but Koonce is a free agent after 2024, and Las Vegas will probably want to see what it has in 2023 top-10 pick Tyree Wilson, who was anonymous as a rookie. Losing Koonce would hurt, but this deal would value him as being worth a fourth-round pick by the Jimmy Johnson chart, which seems fair.”
• Maxx Crosby says what he looks for in draft prospects: “I look at the things that require zero talent,” Crosby said via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “Everybody’s talented in the NFL, everyone’s got ability. The things that matter to me are dudes that are consistent, and they’ve got relentless effort. Dudes that are curious and continuously looking to find ways to improve. I don’t give a s— if you went to Alaska State Technical Institute or Nebraska or LSU. … At the end of the day, I want dudes who love this s—, and you can’t fake it.”