Anyone seeking insight into the Las Vegas Raiders’ draft strategy should reach out to Jack Spytek, the son of team general manager John Spytek.
“My oldest son has made it very clear that if we don’t pick Ashton Jeanty at No. 6, he’s walking out of the family and probably joining whichever team drafts Ashton,” John shared with Sirius/XM, joking about his 10-year-old’s passion. “Jack is all about fantasy football and touchdowns.”
If touchdowns are what Jack is after, Jeanty would be a perfect fit at No. 6 in this month’s NFL Draft. The former Boise State running back racked up 56 total touchdowns over three seasons with the Broncos, including 29 rushing touchdowns in 2024 alone.
And it’s not just about touchdowns. Jeanty rushed for an impressive 2,601 yards in 2024, second only to the legendary Barry Sanders’ 2,628-yard performance at Oklahoma State in 1988. While Sanders went on to win the Heisman that year, Jeanty finished second in the race for the award behind Colorado’s two-way player, Travis Hunter.
Whether new head coach Pete Carroll or minority owner Tom Brady supports selecting Jeanty at No. 6 is still unknown, but Jack has already made his feelings clear to majority owner Mark Davis.
“He walked right into the building and told Mark Davis, ‘If my dad doesn’t pick Ashton Jeanty, he’s doing a bad job,'” John Spytek shared. It seems young Jack might be following in his father’s footsteps. According to John, Jack is obsessed with watching highlights on YouTube, though he does get a bit of guidance from his dad.
“You’ve got to watch all the plays, don’t just get swayed by highlights,” John advised.
As a former scout, Spytek is both proud and concerned about his son’s interest in the draft process. “I love that my son is passionate about the draft process at 10 years old and might be starting to appreciate the scouting world,” Spytek said. “But I also don’t love the life he’s signing up for.”
Spytek has been busy this offseason, not only replacing the fired Antonio Pierce’s coaching staff with Pete Carroll’s but also acquiring quarterback Geno Smith, who previously played under Carroll in Seattle. Smith is now expected to receive a contract extension with the Raiders.
“We’re really excited to have him here, not just this year, but for the years to come,” Spytek said during the NFL’s annual spring meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. When asked about the potential extension, Spytek added, “We’re working on it.”
However, Spytek has also made it clear that Smith’s presence doesn’t rule out the Raiders drafting a quarterback later this month.
