Nine of the 11 Raiders' draft picks made the initial 53-man roster, with Cam Miller and Tommy Mellott being waived. While Miller was brought back to the practice squad, the team decided to head in a different direction from Mellott, the FCS quarterback turned receiver. However, Spytek didn't rule out Mellott coming back at some point down the line.
As for Miller, the rookie quarterback will continue to hone his craft in a room that just acquired Kenny Pickett. Spytek traded for the former AFC North quarterback Tuesday. Pickett will server as QB2 behind Geno Smith until Aidan O'Connell returns from injury.
"I was in Tampa in 2022 when he was a rookie and beat us, beat Tom Brady. He fit the profile of what we're looking for," Spytek said of Pickett. "He does a lot of similar things that Geno does with his athleticism and ability to move the pocket and all that. ... We still are excited about working through Aidan's injury and getting him back at some point, but we had to have some answers. And it would be a lot to ask a rookie from North Dakota State to be the number two guy going into New England in Week 1. So, felt like it was a great move for us."
Another decision he addressed was waiving Thayer Munford Jr. to add swing tackle Stone Forsythe, who was drafted by Pete Carroll in 2021 with the Seattle Seahawks. Additionally, the team signed five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper, who was a first-round pick by the Raiders in 2015.
"[H]is ability to make unique catches is something that's always stood out for me," he said of Cooper. "And whether or not you're the fastest guy in the world or you're not the fastest guy in the world, you're going to have to make contested catches at this level. And he's always been able to do that, and he had many of those last year. ... We have a plan for him to bring him along, and that plan will more than likely include him being a big part of the game plan in New England in 10 days, or whatever it is from now."