Raiders GM Explains What Tom Brady Likes About Team's Sixth-Round QB

A former sixth-round pick himself, Brady thinks Cam Miller has potential.
Brady became a minority owner of the Raiders in 2024
Brady became a minority owner of the Raiders in 2024 / Anne-Marie Caruso/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Las Vegas Raiders solved their quarterback problem in the short term this offseason by trading for Geno Smith, pairing him yet again with head coach Pete Carroll. But the veteran quarterback is entering his age-34 season and the franchise still has to search for a long-term answer at the position.

The new front office led by rookie GM John Spytek took a stab at doing so in this year's NFL draft, picking North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller in the sixth round. Spytek, of course, enjoys a unique resource at his disposal when it comes to QBs: the mind of Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in NFL history who became a minority owner of the franchise in 2024.

Speaking to The Athletic, Spytek explained Brady's involvement in the draft process, saying the Raiders would be "fools" not to loop him in when it comes to quarterbacks. Then he revealed what Brady liked about Miller as a pick for Las Vegas.

"He liked the way (Miller) threw it, his technique, throwing from the ground up and his motion," Spytek said to Dan Pompei. "And he thought he had the potential to improve."

Spytek and the Raiders are undoubtedly hoping some of Brady's magic rubs off on Miller as a sixth-round pick himself. But there are no expectations of Miller to start his career; he'll watch and learn from the sideline as Smith, Carroll and No. 6 pick Ashton Jeanty try to lead the Raiders to a resurgent season in 2025.


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Liam McKeone
LIAM MCKEONE

Liam McKeone is a senior writer for the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in the industry as a content creator since 2017, and prior to joining SI in May 2024, McKeone worked for NBC Sports Boston and The Big Lead. In addition to his work as a writer, he has hosted the Press Pass Podcast covering sports media and The Big Stream covering pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University, he is always up for a good debate and enjoys loudly arguing about sports, rap music, books and video games. McKeone has been a member of the National Sports Media Association since 2020.