General manager John Spytek was well on his way to another quiet, solid draft that was steadily compiling pieces for what the Las Vegas Raiders hope will be a strong foundation from which to build a consistent winner.
Then he decided to make a lot of noise.
Spytek made one of the boldest moves of the draft by trading up one spot to the top of the fourth round and took Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with the first pick on Saturday morning before many fans had poured their first mimosa.
It was a sign of a confidence that quietly has been growing in him as he goes through his first full offseason running the organization.
He’s undoubtedly putting his stamp on things.
While his first season was clouded by ambiguity about whether he or former coach Pete Carroll had the ultimate authority over decision-making, this is Spytek’s team.
It appears that identity is going to be one exemplified by a series of safe, calculated maneuvers that allows him the flexibility to strike when a big opportunity arises.
McCoy was the latest example, but it goes back to the beginning of this offseason.
While the Raiders had a ton of money to spend, most of their free-agency signings trended toward prudent and responsible with the exception of making Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid interior lineman in history.
Spytek knew there was a need. He knew Linderbaum was a tremendous fit, and he knew how much it would mean to a potential rookie quarterback like Fernando Mendoza.
So he pounced.
Just like he did on Saturday.
Spytek and his staff met late into the night Friday to determine how they wanted to approach Saturday’s final day of the draft.
And McCoy’s name had to be flashing in big shiny letters on the Raiders’ fancy new video draft boards throughout that conversation.
He was by far the most talented player left on the board. He might be among the three or four most talented players in the draft. The only concern was a troublesome knee that might need additional attention.
But the Raiders needed players they were sure could make an impact over the first two days.
Day 3, however? They knew the safe thing to do would be to continue drafting, versatile and intelligent players they knew could find a role.
But like a baseball slugger in a 3-and-0 count, they realized the situation was ripe to take a shot and swing away, and McCoy was a dead-center fastball they could hit 450 feet into the left field bleachers.
Spytek might have taken that pitch last year. He might have believed a walk was a decent outcome that would keep the team alive as he found his footing.
But that’s not how to win a Super Bowl.
It’s a lesson Spytek’s new quarterback Fernando Mendoza said Friday he learned from his mother.
“Fortune favors the bold,” she installed in her oldest child.
If that’s true, good luck soon might be in store for Spytek. He was bold without being reckless. There had to be some thought of taking McCoy on Friday, but he resisted the urge and let the draft come to him. Then, with more time to think overnight, he struck.
And it cost him only a seventh-round pick next year to do it.
If McCoy is healthy, it’s not a home run. It’s a three-homer game or two grand slams in an inning. If he’s not, you wasted a fourth-round pick and gave up a seventh next year to do it.
That’s not nothing, but it’s more than a fair pricetag for the possible payoff. Even if he never plays a down.
His film, which is really only from 2024, is fun to watch. McCoy is elite on several levels. He could have been a top-three pick based on talent and performance alone.
He’s the kind of player you don’t want to pass on for fear he ends up as a superstar for a rival.
The Raiders hope to become that team other fanbases fear will make moves like this work out.
Spytek is starting to show he might be the right person to get them there.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
