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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The wide receiver room of the Las Vegas Raiders has been part of the draft discussion as the Silver and Black lack a true No. 1 target. However, the group could take a major step with Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton entering Year 2 in the NFL.
Moreover, the Raiders also signed Jalen Nailor as a free agent, who could be ready for a bigger role than what he had with the Minnesota Vikings behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Focusing on Bech and Thornton, Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke about the two young receivers and shared an update on them after a roller coaster rookie season with the Silver and Black.
“Two guys who have spent a lot of time in Las Vegas when they could be elsewhere, and I see growth and maturity, a hunger,” Spytek told reporters on April 14. “Maybe their rookie year did not go the way they wanted, and they are determined to make the most of the opportunity in front of them.”
Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Get More Encouraging Words
Moreover, Spytek gave both players a vote of confidence heading into their second season, after seeing the offseason commitment they have made by spending a lot of time in the city.
“They’re both big, and they work really hard, and it’s really important to them,” Spytek added. “They seek people out and look for answers. They look for ways they can get better. They’re always trying to learn, and they work their tails off. It means a lot to both of those guys, and I’ll stand by guys like that.
“Guys who are willing to lay it on the line, exhaust themselves to get better, be vulnerable, ask questions, and take feedback and criticism in a sense. I think you want guys on your team like that because they’re going to get better.”
John Spytek Talks Adding Jalen Nailor to Raiders
As for Nailor, in a March 26 video from the Raiders YouTube channel, Spytek shared his thoughts on having Nailor as part of their wideout group.
“We were young [at the wide receiver position] last year,” Spytek said. “[Nailor is] a more‑proven veteran, and the cool thing about him is he was really the fourth option when you look at the two receivers [the Vikings] have, both first‑round picks and excellent players, and the tight end, too.
“Whenever he was asked to produce, or had to step in if those guys were dinged up in Minnesota, he performed. He has a lot of the traits we look for in a wide receiver and is a great kid. My only gripe with him is he’s a Spartan, but I was more than willing to overlook that to get a player like him in the building.”
Last season with the Vikings, Nailor earned a 66.3 overall PFF grade, ranking 54th among 81 qualified wide receivers. His 67.1 receiving grade also placed him 54th in that same group.
Furthermore, he finished the year with 29 catches on 49 targets for 444 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 15.3 yards per reception. Nailor added 114 yards after the catch and was credited with one drop. His average depth of target was 13.1 yards, indicating he was mostly used downfield in the passing game.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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