- Home
- >>Sports
- >>Sports Columns
- >>Adam Hill
Adam Hill
Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco speaks during a news conference after the Raiders selected tight end Brock Bowers in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Raiders Headquarters in Henderson. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
More Stories
ByAdam Hill/Las Vegas Review-Journal
April 27, 2024 - 7:28 pm
Updated April 27, 2024 - 7:29 pm
New general manager Tom Telesco didn’t hit a home run in his first draft in charge of the Raiders.
Then again, he wasn’t exactly swinging for the fences.
Telesco and his staff played things pretty much by the book over the last few days, and the result was a solid, yet unspectacular, haul.
Or, to keep the analogy going even further, Telesco and the personnel department went up to the plate looking for singles and found themselves getting on base more often than not.
“I’m happy with this group, I am,” Telesco said Saturday after selecting eight players in three days. “It’s a good group. It’s a good starting point. Add this group to last year’s draft class, and hopefully we get moving.”
That’s exactly what the goal should be right now. The Raiders could have mortgaged their future for one of the top three quarterbacks, but is the rest of the roster really in place to allow someone like Jayden Daniels to have immediate success?
Probably not.
This is an organization that has tried quick fixes far too many times. Far too often, the hefty hacks at the plate have resulted in whiffs. That’s why the Raiders have been stuck right at or below .500 for the better part of two decades, the worst place to be in a league in which teams want to be either really good or really bad.
Unfortunately for them, the middle is probably where the Raiders will be languishing again this season. They didn’t improve enough to be a legitimate contender, especially in the absence of a franchise quarterback, and they still have too much talent to challenge for a top pick next season.
A prudent selection
But it feels different. The Raiders added a tight end with a very high ceiling in Brock Bowers in the first round. While it may not have been the original plan, the Raiders showed discipline in pivoting to the Georgia star, who was atop most “best available player” lists at the time.
After being rejected for Daniels, they could have overpaid for Michael Penix Jr. or J.J. McCarthy out of desperation, knowing a top-line quarterback is such a necessity. But either because they didn’t like the remaining names on the board or were turned off by the asking price, the Raiders stood pat and grabbed a pass-catcher who should make any quarterback better.
Telesco said the team never considered drafting a quarterback after missing out on the trade up.
“We felt there was a quarterback out there that was better than we had, or could potentially be better, certainly we would have done something about it,” Telesco said. “But it didn’t line up.”
Sounds prudent. They then went to work on making sure Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew have the pieces in place to have a chance at some level of success.
That started with a likely immediate starter at right guard in Jackson Powers-Johnson. Then they found some depth on the offensive line and in the secondary, where they were able to select some players with exceptional traits who could eventually materialize into big contributors with the right structure and coaching.
“Obviously, there’s needs we’d like to fill, and I’ve told you before the needs kind of change,” Telesco said. “Depth is a need, too. You’ve got to have depth across your team, so that’s a big part of it.”
All likely to make team
The new kickoff rule was a driving factor in adding a potential dynamic return specialist in Dylan Laube. Tommy Eichenberg is an old-school middle linebacker who will add depth and attitude. Every player appears to have a good chance of cracking the roster.
“We really stripped the board down pretty heavily in trying to increase the odds for the player that we take,” Telesco said. “We tried to mitigate some risk by making sure we take some players off the board that for whatever reason — playability, scheme, character, medical — could impact their odds of making our team.”
Add guys to the organization who will be able make the roster and contribute while developing them to be ready to play at a high level when the team is ready to compete.
Nothing out of the park. But maybe the bases are loaded, setting the stage for a big inning in the future.
Then when the Raiders do finally look for a fastball out over the plate, the home run won’t just be a solo shot.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
MOST READ: Raiders
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'READ MORE'; html += 'LIVE WELL'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'STORIES LIKE THIS'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('livewell').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-sponsored-full').length>0) { return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2023-year-in-review')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '2023 YEAR IN REVIEW'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('2023-year-in-review').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-msg-sphere')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tag-msg-sphere').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-jeff-german-murder') || $('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-remembering-jeff-german')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('jeff_german').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-911-anniversary')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'REMEMBERING 9/11: 20 YEARS LATER'; html += 'Looking back at the 2001 terror attacks and how they affected Las Vegas and the world.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('anniversary-911').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-class-of-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'MEET THE UNFORGETTABLE CLASS'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '2021'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('class-2021').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2022-election')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION 2022'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION RESULTS'; html += 'Click here'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('election-2022').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-harry-reid-1939-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Harry Reid(1939-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Senate leader and Nevada political titan'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('harry-reid').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-henry-ruggs')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HENRY RUGGSDEADLY CRASH'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'CLICK FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('henry-ruggs').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('category-homicides')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HOMICIDE'; html += 'A STORY BEHIND EVERY NAME'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'TRACKER'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('homicides').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-sheldon-adelson')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Sheldon Adelson(1933-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Las Vegas visionary and Philanthropist.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('sheldon-adelson').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-tony-hsieh')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Tony Hsieh(1973-2020)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Ex-Zappos and Downtown Project CEO left a lasting impression on Las Vegas.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tony-hsieh').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-vegas-weekend')) { //vegas-reawakening html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'VEGAS REAWAKENING'; html += 'A year after the pandemic began, the first weekend of spring showed a perfect storm of promise for Las Vegas’ recovery and brought optimism that visitors would indeed return to the city'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('vegas-reawakening').html(html); return; } //add newsletters embed var default_category_to_show = ['News', 'Local', 'Life', 'Crime']; var newsletter_1st_lv = []; newsletter_1st_lv['default'] = {'id':'starting_point,pm_update', 'track_name':'StartingPoint', 'title':'LOCAL NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Morning and Afternoon Update newsletters.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Sports'] = {'id':'sports', 'track_name':'Sports', 'title':'SPORTS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Sports Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Business'] = {'id':'business', 'track_name':'Business', 'title':'BUSINESS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Business Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Entertainment'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'entertainment', 'track_name':'Entertainment', 'title':'WANT THE LATEST ON LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free entertainment email alerts'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Nevada Preps'] = {'id':'nevada_preps', 'title':'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date with our free Nevada Preps newsletter.'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Investigations'] = {'id':'rj_investigates', 'title':'INVESTIGATIVE NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free RJ Investigates newsletter.'}; var cat_has_subcat = ['News','Business','Entertainment','Sports', 'Opinion']; var newsletter_2nd_lv = []; newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'political', 'track_name':'Political', 'title':'LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS COVERAGE', 'subtitle':'
Sign up for our free RJ politics email alerts.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'political', 'title':'ELECTION 2020: BE INFORMED', 'subtitle':'
FULL COVERAGE | ELECTION RESULTS
Sign up for our free RJ Politics newsletter.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Debra J. Saunders'] = {'id':'44', 'title':'YOUR WEEKLY POLITICAL FIX', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free DC-LV newsletter with political stories from the swamp to the Strip.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['CES 2021'] = {'id':'ces', 'title':'CES 2021: STAY IN THE KNOW', 'subtitle':'
The Review-Journal is a media partner with the CTA. Click here for full coverage and live video from CES 2021
Sign up for our free newsletter below.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['TV'] = {'id':'tv_briefing', 'title':'GET YOUR TV LISTINGS', 'subtitle':'Your Weekly TV Briefing.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['UNLV'] = {'id':'unlv_rebel_news', 'title':'UNLV SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date on the Rebels with our free newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Rodeo'] = {'id':'rodeo_nfr', 'track_name':'RodeoNFR', 'title':'RODEO NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Don\'t miss any of the action! Click here for full NFR coverage or Sign up for our free newsletter below'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Raiders News'] = {'id':'vegasnation', 'track_name':'VegasNation', 'title':'WANT EVEN MORE RAIDERS NEWS?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Vegas Nation newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Golden Knights'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'golden_knights', 'track_name':'GoldenKnights', 'title':'WANT MORE KNIGHTS IN YOUR DAY?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free Golden Knights email alerts for all the latest updates'}; var main_cat = ''; var m_hierarchy = []; var m_cat = []; var m_hl_cat = ''; if (window.dataLayer[0].metrics) { main_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.section; //National Finals Rodeo m_hierarchy = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.hierarchy.split(' | '); //"Sports | Rodeo | National Finals Rodeo" m_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.categories; //["National Finals Rodeo","Rodeo","Sports"] m_hl_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics['hl-category']; //Sports } var i, k, found, newsletter; newsletter = false; found = false; if (default_category_to_show.includes(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv['default']; } if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hl_cat]; } // check main category if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(main_cat)) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[main_cat]; } if (!found) { // check in hierarchy (main category hierarchy) i = m_hierarchy.length; while (!found && i >= 0) { i--; if (i > 0) { if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } else { // i=0, check first level if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } } } if (!found) { // check in category i = m_cat.length; while (!found && i > 0 && cat_has_subcat.includes(m_hl_cat)) { i--; if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_cat[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_cat[i]]; } } } if (newsletter !== false && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-hide-newsletter') && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass(' rj-story-sponsored-full')) { var alert_id = ''; if (newsletter.alert_id) { alert_id = newsletter.alert_id; } html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'+newsletter.title+'
'; html += '
'+newsletter.subtitle+'
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy and '; html += 'Terms of Service. Unsubscribe at any time.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').html(html); } //});})(jQuery);
*/jQuery('.rj-fb-like-btn.raiders').appendTo('.rj-story-full .entry-info-cont');var m_hierarchy = [];if (window.dataLayer[0].metrics) { m_hierarchy = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.hierarchy.split(' | '); if (m_hierarchy.includes('Golden Knights')) { jQuery('.rj-fb-like-btn.raiders').hide(); } }
THE LATEST
Hill: Dave Rice opens up about UNLV firing, unsettled legacy
ByAdam Hill/RJ
Dave Rice is a head basketball coach again. It has been more than eight years since he was fired midseason by UNLV, but he’s still not willing to point fingers.
Hill: Ex-UFC fighter ‘blessed’ after nearly dying while saving parents
ByAdam Hill/RJ
UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman was thrilled to be in attendance for UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. He’s just happy to be alive after surviving a fire last month.
Hill: Hypocrisy of rich college coaches borders on hilarious
ByAdam Hill/RJ
LSU coach Brian Kelly is just the latest highly paid college football coach to suggest limiting the earning potential of the kids who have helped make him rich.
Hill: Official’s foul call steals moment from UConn — and Iowa
ByAdam Hill/RJ
Those arguing whether a controversial call in the final seconds of the historic women’s semifinal was technically correct are missing the mark about the actual issue.
Hill: Raiders’ draft predicament again shows value of tanking
ByAdam Hill/RJ
The Raiders believed they needed to win down the stretch to secure the full-time job for coach Antonio Pierce. But they could use better draft position now.
Hill: MLB’s absurd TV blackout rules on display with Korea game
ByAdam Hill/RJ
Major League Baseball opened the season with a couple of games in South Korea, though Las Vegas fans can be forgiven for missing at least one of them.
Hill: 2 simple fixes to make the NCAA Tournament even greater
ByAdam Hill/RJ
The NCAA Tournament is the greatest sporting event on the planet, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Here are two things that should be changed.
Hill: SEC should be embarrassed by NCAA showing, not Mountain West
ByAdam Hill/RJ
An embarrassing performance in the NCAA Tournament should serve as a humbling slice of reality for a conference, but maybe not the first one that comes to mind.
Hill: For NCAA Tournament, it’s not a conspiracy theory if it’s true
ByAdam Hill/RJ
There are still plenty of problems with the way the NCAA Tournament committee selects and seeds teams, but enjoy it while it lasts. Something worse is coming.
Hill: For La Rocque and Lady Rebels, it’s time.
ByAdam Hill/RJ
The UNLV women’s basketball team got a well-deserved trophy for winning its third straight Mountain West tournament championship, but a bigger goal remains.
MORE STORIES
'; html += '
' html += '
'+d['title']+'
'; html += '
'; $('.rjp-related .base-'+base+' .field-story').append(html); } }});})(jQuery);
