The 2024 season was rough for the Raiders – and that’s putting it lightly. A 4-13 record, too many one-score losses, and an offense that couldn’t punch above 26 points all year. For a team with Maxx Crosby at its core and fans starving for a turnaround, something had to change.
Enter Tom Brady. The former Patriots and Bucs legend officially became a part-owner of the Raiders heading into 2025, and he didn’t waste time reshaping the franchise. Alongside new GM John Spytek and seasoned head coach Pete Carroll, the Raiders approached the draft with a clear vision: rebuild the team’s identity from the inside out.
That mindset showed up in the front office’s moves. Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty was taken with the sixth overall pick. The team also picked up two quarterbacks – Montana State’s Tommy Mellott and North Dakota State’s Cam Miller – in the sixth round, both with promising college résumés. And they brought in Geno Smith to lead the QB room, setting the stage for a more stable future under center.
Crosby, never shy about speaking his mind, praised the organization’s direction during an April 30 appearance on The Rush podcast. “This is exactly what our team is going to be – it’s our identity,” he said. “We didn’t just pick guys based on their 40 time. We picked guys who love football.”
And when it came to Jeanty, Crosby wasn’t just watching from the sidelines – he may have helped make it happen. The two built a relationship while working together as brand ambassadors for SAXX Underwear. As the draft approached, Crosby decided to let Jeanty know how he felt. “I didn’t know we were going to draft him,” Crosby admitted. “But I just shot him a text. I try to manifest everything.”
“It felt real after that text”: How a casual message helped seal the Raiders’ top draft pick
That message landed the night before the draft. For Jeanty, it was a moment that shifted everything. “Once he texted me, I felt like, ‘Man, it’s really happening – I’m going to the Raiders,'” he told reporters after being picked.
Interestingly, Jeanty was widely expected to go to Jacksonville. According to CBS Sports, the Jaguars were strongly eyeing him before trading up for Travis Hunter instead. That twist left the door open for the Raiders – and Brady’s crew walked right through it.
While Jeanty is grabbing headlines, the Raiders’ late-round QB moves also matter. Both Mellott (33-8 career record) and Miller (45-11) bring winning pedigrees. Add that to Geno Smith’s veteran presence and Pete Carroll’s coaching DNA, and the offense finally has pieces that might click.
Crosby seems genuinely bought in. “You can see the influence – from Pete to Spytek to Brady to Mark Davis. It’s all there,” he said. And if his prediction pans out, the Raiders’ identity won’t just be words on a draft board – it’ll show up on Sundays.
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