The Raiders Drafting Ashton Jeanty Was Team-Building Malpractice

The Raiders Drafting Ashton Jeanty Was Team-Building Malpractice

Since we’re on the team-building theme, given everything that’s happened with the site (example 1 / example 2), I figured let’s keep the train rolling. The Ashton Jeanty conversation appears to be a one-sided one. It’s Trey vs. everyone else in the industry. However, there’s one thing these people can’t ignore, if they’re smart…

From a team-building perspective, I’d argue that what the Raiders did with Ashton Jeanty was borderline ignorant. It was team-building malpractice, and I’m not sure how you can even argue it.

The Raiders aren’t team-building. They’re line-item shopping, and it shows. Maybe this pick won’t turn out quite as bad, but it reeks of what Pete Carroll did when he reached for Rashaad Penny with Seattle.

Jeanty isn’t a blue-chip talent, but even if you disagree with me, it’s hard to argue that the Raiders are really getting surplus value here. He’s already the second-highest paid running back in the league and hasn’t taken a snap yet. If he’s not automatically a top-five running back right away as a rookie, the Raiders overpaid.

Are you people actually that delusional that you think that’s an automatic? The Chinese Farmer isn’t on your side with that one. The NFL Draft is tied to economic value. The Raiders didn’t get economic value. They got a hope and a prayer that a running back can carry them out of a last place basement. That’s poor planning on every fundamental level.

Smart people understand that the fat guys up front determine the outcome of these games. If you have a chance to draft a blue-chip offensive or defensive linemen, you should do it every time.

Except the Raiders don’t understand these things. It’s why they foolishly passed on Jalen Carter, and then repeated that same mistake this year.

The Raiders have zero foundational pieces on their offensive line, minus maybe a center. They had Kelvin Banks staring them in the face and passed. Better yet, Kolton Miller is currently having major contract disputes with the club. The Raiders had a chance to draft his replacement and passed. It’s indefensible.

Why Drafting Ashton Jeanty Should Be Considered A Non-Starter

What exactly are the Raiders trying to build?

What exactly is the identity of this team?

The Raiders aren’t trying to recreate the Raider way. I’d argue this is a slap in the face to Al Davis. He wanted size and speed. To build teams through the trenches with having speed over the top. Dont’e Thornton represented an Al Davis pick. Taking Jeanty over a top tier offensive lineman is disrespectful to his legacy, and it’s insane nobody else is talking about it.

The only thing Vegas is doing right now is wasting time. Pete Carroll will fail. The only thing he won’t fail at is making Antonio Pierce look like a cheerleader. In terms of building a real winner? No chance.

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