Raiders Address Cornerback Depthโ in Latest Mailbag, Reflect on pickettโข Trade & Cutdown Day Decisions
LASโ VEGAS โฃ- The Las Vegas Raiders are navigating final roster adjustments โขasโ week 1 approaches, โwith โcornerback depth a โฃkey โarea of focus according โขtoo a recent mailbag published by Silver and Black Pride. Questions submitted to reporter Mick Holder reveal fan concerns about the current cornerback situation and broader roster โคdecisions made during the offseason and recent cutdown period.
holder addressed inquiries regarding the Raiders’ acquisition of quarterback Masonโฃ Pickett from the Pittsburgh Steelers. While โคPickett didn’t pan out as a starter for the Steelers, Holder believes heโข possesses the qualitiesโฃ of a capable NFL backup, citing his performance against the Dallas Cowboys and solid play in relief for Jalen Hurts. He noted thatโ Generalโ Manager Tom spytek likely paid a slight premium for Pickett but secured the best available backupโข option,with the raiders perhaps recouping the fifth-round pick via compensatory draft picks earned from free agent departures.
The mailbag also tackled โfanโ confusion surrounding the release of Tommy Mellott, nicknamed “Touchdown Tommy,” after the โRaiders drafted him in the sixth round. Holder acknowledged Mellott’s struggles in the preseason were understandable given his transition โfrom the FCS level โto the NFL and a position change. He expressed disappointmentโข that the Raiders didn’t โฃretain Mellott โon the โฃpractice squad, suggesting Spytekโข should have prioritized drafting players requiring more developmentalโข patience.
fans can continue to submit questions to Holder via Twitter (@MHolder95) or email (SBPQuestions1@gmail.com), with a weekly โคcall for questions published on Thursdays.