Las Vegas Raiders get as high of a grade as possible, but not an A+ after drafting Ashton Jeanty in Round 1

Everyone initially thought the Raiders would do this a few months ago when they traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. The Raiders had the worst running game in the league last year, led by Alexander Mattison and Zamir White. If that's not underwhelming enough for you, the Raiders' sole free agency signing for the room was former Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers RB Raheem Mostert.

So, yes, they were able to package the best player available strategy, which Jeanty was, with a need. I'm a huge fan of the player. I'm a fan of the pick. Now, I'm not one of these dudes calling Jeanty generational, because he isn't, or that would mean guys like Saquon Barkley aren't generational. However, I'm fine with the pick.

In fact, the Raiders got the best grade they could get for their pick; however, it's not an A+.

Grading Raiders' Round 1 pick of Ashton Jeanty

If I were to grade this pick, I'd give it a solid A, not an A-, and certainly not an A+, but a solid A, and it makes all of the sense in the world.

With where the Raiders were selecting and who was available, the Raiders didn't need to take a tackle. Taking Kelvin Banks would have been a reach, even though the New Orleans Saints did it at No. 9.

It wouldn't have been a reach to take Aramdn Membou, the right tackle that the New York Jets ended up taking, but it would have meant that the Raiders was either giving up on DJ Glaze after one year where he was solid for a third round rookie, or that they weren't going to resign  Kolton Miller to an extension, and move Glaze to left tackle. I think they believe in the jump that Glaze can make in year two, and want to keep him as a starter. The left side is the side in question now with what they do regarding Miller and the extension he is asking for.

To take any other position of need there at No. 6 would have been a massive reach, regardless of the position. So, the Raiders made the best pick that they could with staying at No. 6.

But here's why it's not an A+ -- the positional value for the RB position is still much greater in the second round or even the third round. So in that sense, the Raiders could have taken an RB for better value in the second round in a guy like TreVeyon Henderson.

But, it's tricky, because, like I said, this is the best possible pick they could have made that would have addressed a need with the BPA strategy while staying at no. 6, and not reaching on anyone.

So, yes, John Spytek and Pete Carroll nailed this draft pick.