Raiders GM addresses 2024 NFL Draft 'coin toss' controversy

Las Vegas Raiders assistant general manager Champ Kelly recently attempted to brush off a claim made by cornerback Terrion Arnold that the club used a "coin toss" to finalize its decision to make tight end Brock Bowers and not Arnold the 13th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Raiders general manager Tom Telesco offered more information during a Thursday appearance on the NFL Network "NFL Total Access" program. 

"Typically, I use a magic 8-ball and not a coin," Telesco quipped, as shared by Bobby Kownack of the NFL's website. "...When you're picking 13, there aren't that many scenarios to go through. So obviously we had gone through the scenario of players being gone and Brock Bowers is there, and we discussed in a small group -- if that happened like, hey, we're gonna take Brock. So we had gone through the process."

Leading up to the draft, some wondered if the Raiders could spend choice No. 13 on either Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon Ducks signal-caller Bo Nix. 

However, six quarterbacks were drafted within the first 12 picks, and the Raiders reportedly "weren't going to reach or overpay" for a signal-caller they didn't truly want. 

"On draft day, certainly in the first round and a little bit in the second round, there's not a whole lot of discussion when you're on the clock because you've already gone through the scenario of what could play out and what you're going to do," Telesco continued. "So that's what happened with Brock."

As for Arnold, the Detroit Lions took him via the draft's 24th selection. 

For a piece published earlier this week, Liz Loza of ESPN referred to the Raiders taking Bowers at No. 13 as "the biggest head-scratching pick of the draft" because Las Vegas grabbed tight end Michael Mayer in the second round of last year's player-selection process "and entered [this year's draft] with holes all along the offensive line." 

Telesco indicated he has no regrets about what occurred on the night of April 25. 

"We were really lucky to get Brock," Telesco told NFL Network's Mike Yam. "We're looking to add to our offense. We just didn't score enough points last year. So whether it was an offensive lineman or a skill player, they kind of help us move the football and score more, we think Brock can help us there."

As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Bowers as a betting underdog at +3500 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for the upcoming season. Perhaps both he and Telesco will enjoy a bit of a laugh regarding such forecasts come February 2025.