ESPN news: “We’re drafting them for the future, and that’s what we’re hoping to get out of them,” Telesco stated

Nothing is confirmed for the Las Vegas Raiders with three days left before the draft begins. Numerous options are open to consideration.

Whether they stay at No. 13, trade back, or trade up, there is a strategy in place for every scenario, General Manager Tom Telesco told local reporters on Monday. It is still unclear which path they will choose, and it may remain that way until the draft begins and they see how the selection process unfolds.

During the draft process, Telesco discussed his collaboration with head coach Antonio Pierce and his “vision of what he wants in the football team.” Because Pierce has experience recruiting many of the talents available in the draft, he feels that his time as an Arizona State college coach has been a great asset.

Telesco made it quite evident that selecting players for this draft class will include far more consideration than simply selecting the top player on the clock or a player in need of a particular position. He views every draft choice as a long-term investment that will work with the team’s and Las Vegas’ existing environments.

“We’re drafting them for the future, and that’s what we’re hoping to get out of them,” Telesco stated. It’s less important where they first fit in during their rookie year. History indicates that, in fact, hardly many rookies—perhaps as few as thirty percent—actually play a large number of snaps during their first year or satisfy a demand. That’s how things really are. These players were drafted with a minimum of four to five years’ worth of needs in mind, regardless of what those requirements may be now or in the future.

“These athletes are entering the arena to represent the Raiders, Las Vegas, and Raiders supporters worldwide. You must fit with us if you want to be one of us.”

Telesco has worked in the NFL for more than 30 years, so this procedure is nothing new to them. The most crucial thing, though, is that he has a group of people he can rely on to help him make the best choices for the roster, like senior director of player personnel JoJo Wooden and deputy general manager Champ Kelly.

Kelly, who served as the Raiders’ interim general manager in 2023, is in his third season. Telesco and Wooden have been teammates for more than ten years, going all the way back to the Chargers. Former NFL Combine participant Telesco stated that while he thinks both guys have the talent to become general managers in the near future, he counts himself lucky to have their support for the time being. In addition to Wooden and Kelly, he has been amazed by the personnel he inherited.

Telesco remarked, “We have a really good staff of college scouts.” “These men have excellent organizational, detail-oriented, and teaching skills. It’s been a great blessing for me to come across this and have resources like this, and the coaches undoubtedly play a significant role in the process as well. They resemble a cross check, nearly. They will aid in figuring out scheme fit. Thus, attempt to gather the scouts and coaches—the head coach, of course, plays a major role in this—kind of tie everything together, add some data analytics, mix everything together, and come to a judgment.

“I believe it shouldn’t be stressful if you prepare adequately. It makes me feel incredibly good. I’m happy with the group. We will kind of let things go on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday even though we’ve planned a lot.”