The 2025 NFL Draft is well-known for its tactics and occasionally for hilarious backstage incidents. John Spytek, the Raiders’ general manager, recently shared a funny tale about a smart strategy he employed with running back Ashton Jeanty during the draft process.
GM John Spytek Shares Hilarious Ashton Jeanty Draft Story
In his first season as general manager of the Raiders, John Spytek was adamant about acquiring Ashton Jeanty, a running back from Boise State. He was so determined that he engaged his 10-year-old son in some pre-draft deceit.
Spytek openly declared that his son would “walk out of the family” if the Raiders didn’t select Jeanty, knowing that other teams, especially the Chicago Bears, were also interested in him.
View this post on Instagram
To reduce their apparent need for the player and deter them from trading up to acquire him, it was intended to give the impression that the Raiders’ desire was motivated by a child’s whim.
Spytek used more than one tactic. To prevent other teams from learning that the Raiders were interested in Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott, he also purposefully refrained from inviting him in for a pre-draft visit.
Ultimately, the Raiders selected Mellott in the sixth round and Jeanty with the sixth overall pick. Was this strategy effective?
A Calculated Risk with a Big Payoff
Spytek’s plan, albeit unconventional, looks to have worked. The Raiders got both Jeanty and Mellott, answering critical roster needs. Jeanty, a Doak Walker Award winner who has been compared to LaDainian Tomlinson and Barry Sanders, could greatly enhance the Raiders’ running assault.
Spytek was aware of the danger. “The risk also is that if you ‘trip’ somebody like this, you put yourself on the radar as a team that you’d want to get in front of if you want to pick him,” 1 said. But in this instance, the possible gain was greater than the danger.
It is evident from John Spytek’s strategy for negotiating the 2025 NFL Draft that he is prepared to think outside the box and try new things.
Although acquiring elite players to strengthen the Raiders’ roster is still his primary duty, he has also demonstrated an aptitude for strategic maneuvering and a welcome sense of humor in a typically somber and confidential setting.
Spytek’s “laugh-out-loud” narrative offers a unique look into the creative lengths NFL teams would go to acquire the players they need in a sport where information distribution is strictly regulated, and dishonesty is frequently a part of the game.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
It also paints a picture of a general manager who isn’t afraid to inject personality and unconventional thinking into the often-rigid process of building a professional football team, even if it means playfully involving his family in the pre-draft narrative.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
