The NFL combine is upon us; the dashes and drills will be made, scouts will be impressed, and players will look for a final test to gain an edge in their draft chances. Just one last hurdle to pass and then await pastures anew, substantially greener and substantially ambitious. This is by far the peak athletic experience in the football world.
And like other teams, the Las Vegas Raiders have also reached the Combine to look for their potential prospects for the long term. And they might have also found one for their defense, a player who carries with himself footballing heritage but individual brilliance. Also, they need a player desperately, as their other two roster players are about to hit free agency. So, who’s that player?
Well, it’s none other than the former Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. A player who not only helped the Irish in their incredible playoff final run but also did it with style. A whopping 83 tackles and 6 interceptions place them among the Irish’s elite talents. Surely, the player will provide the required support for the Las Vegas Raiders in seasons to come.
Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser (24) defensive lineman Howard Cross III (56) safety Xavier Watts (0) and quarterback Riley Leonard (13) and cornerback Christian Gray (29) celebrate deafening the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Xavier Watts was asked about his draft prospects and meetings at the NFL Combine in a recent press conference. “Yeah, I mean I feel like I have instincts you can’t coach. I mean, my game film speaks for itself. I make a lot of plays on the ball, and that’s ’cause I’m trusting what I’m feeling. I can’t play slow; it’s out there playing fast.“
Surely, he feels confident about his abilities, and rightly so. Since this is a player who may not be the 1st round type prospect, he still has a lot to offer, and his high potential ceiling will definitely be helpful in making his case. He was also asked about the Raiders and Pete Carroll, to which he said…
“That coaching staff is really good, Coach [Pete] Carroll; obviously, he’s the new head coach there, so just meeting with those guys was a good conversation.” He also praised his former Irish teammate Mike Mayers, who is currently with the Raiders. “Mike Mayers is an awesome guy,” he said. “I came in the same class as him; he was a 2020 guy with me, so he’s one of my close friends. So, obviously, Mike is a really talented player, so we’ll see what happens.” Does that mean his history and friendship with Mike Mayers will play a part in the Raiders drafting him?
Raiders’ quarterback room sorted?
Well, it’s looking to be the case, as he is someone on Pete Carroll’s radar, according to various reports. Furthermore, the Raiders’ current safeties, Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps, are about to hit free agency, and bringing them back will not be that easy money-wise. So, it will make sense for the Raiders to make a run for him in the second or third round and grab Xavier in a potential bargain deal. But the Raiders have another problem in their hands in terms of QB room.
Las Vegas Raiders are actively making a run for veteran Super Bowl winner QB Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams. The 37-year-old veteran has vast experience in his resume, garnering several high-profile records in his stat sheet. According to The Athletic, the coaching staff at the Raiders is quite keen on adding the veteran QB to its roster, and here’s why.
“There are members of the Raiders’ offensive coaching staff who prefer adding a proven veteran quarterback to taking a dice roll on a rookie quarterback, according to league sources.” The coaches also think that the 2025 class is quite low on QB talent, so it would make sense for them to add someone like Stafford with a proven pedigree. The addition will undoubtedly be quite expensive. However, whether it will pay off or not, only time will tell.
The post Raiders’ Projected Top Pick Makes Unexpected NFL Combine Announcement as Pete Carroll Makes QB Preference Clear appeared first on EssentiallySports.
