The Las Vegas Raiders got an impressive athlete and an explosive playmaker in the NFL Draft.
However, Ashton Jeanty wasn’t the only potential gem they found in a lesser-known program.
They took Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott in the sixth round, and while they needed another young quarterback to develop behind Geno Smith, he wasn’t on most big boards as a potential NFL signal-caller.
Nevertheless, it seems like that’s not what the Raiders intended, either.
According to one of their highest-ranked executives, they see him as a Julian Edelman or Taysom Hill kind of player:
“I wouldn’t pigeonhole him right now,” Raiders college scouting director Brandon Yeargan said. “I would say we view him as a receiver that’s going to have a lot of value in the kicking game, potentially as a returner, as a cover player, maybe play some quarterback, too. We’re looking (at him) really as an athlete/receiver, but he’s a unique guy.”
The Raiders believe Mellott’s versatility and dynamic skill set can make him the ultimate gadget player.
They have a creative offensive coordinator in Chip Kelly, and he will certainly find a way to get him to the field and keep opposing defenses guessing.
Also, the fact that they took North Dakota State QB Cam Miller shortly after drafting Mellott shows that they never intended to work him out as a quarterback.
If they can turn him into their own version of Julian Edelman, Pete Carroll will have one of the most intriguing pieces in the entire league.
He will most likely be trusted to return kick-offs, come out of the backfield as a running back, catch passes, and maybe even throw a pass every now and then.
Mellott impressed scouts by running a 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, and he also threw passes and caught them as a receiver to showcase his versatility.
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