kaelon black
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Indiana RB Kaelon Black.
The Las Vegas Raiders want to add another running back to the roster, but have yet to do so. The team recently hosted Najee Harris for a visit, but he left Las Vegas without a contract.
Running back isn’t a super high priority for the Raiders, considering they used a top-10 draft pick on Ashton Jeanty just last year. However, the team wants to give him a running mate so he doesn’t have to take on such a big workload.
It’s possible that the Raiders are waiting until the draft to add another running back. Considering how many needs the team has, it’s hard to imagine they’ll use one of their early picks to add to the position.
Day 3 could be the team to pick a running back, and one who should be available is Indiana’s Kaelon Black. The Raiders are showing some interest in him. According to Pro Football Talk, Las Vegas is hosting Black for a Top 30 visit. The Raiders only have so many of those visits, so they have to at least be a bit interested in the running back.
Scouting Report on Black
Notably, Black just won a National Championship with likely No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. Since the Raiders are expected to draft Mendoza, it could be a fun story to reunite him with his running back.
Black had a solid season with Indiana, rushing for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns. That said, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein isn’t too high on what he can do at the NFL level.
“‘Get what is blocked’ runner with good size and above-average aggression as a finisher,” Zierlein wrote. “Black split carries in Indiana’s downhill attack and generally kept the run on its designed track. He lacks ideal burst and utilizes too many stutter-steps in processing the run lane while headed to the hole. He’s not elusive inside but will add yards with his tackle-breaking and fall-forward running style. Black is a grinder with below-average third-down value, but he could create competition for a RB3/4 role in camp.”
It’s possible that Black could even be available as an undrafted free agent.
Kirk Cousins Praises Jeanty
Expectations were sky high for Jeanty coming into the NFL, but the Raiders didn’t do him any favors. The hope is that playing behind a better offensive line with a better coaching staff calling plays will lead to him having a big season.
New quarterback Kirk Cousins expects big things from Jeanty playing in Klint Kubiak’s system and running behind new center Tyler Linderbaum.
“A lot of backs have had success (in Kubiak’s system), and sometimes it takes some reps to kind of learn how to read that cut with the outside zone, but we’re also going to do what he does well,” Cousins told Raiders.com. “So, we’re not going to try to fit a square peg in a round hole. If Ashton has a certain run he’s most comfortable with, I would expect us to lean in that direction. Tyler at center is going to be a great fit. I think he’s a stud pass blocker (and) run blocker. I think he’s going to fit great in the scheme. So, I can’t wait to start taking snaps from him and kind of build it right there up the middle with Tyler and Ashton.”