Raiders Supporting Old Teammates During Draft Process

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- One of the great resources NFL Draft prospects have is their former college teammates who are now in the league.

The Las Vegas Raiders have players from all over the country -- players from national title teams, players who transferred, players from non-FBS schools. The list goes on.

Raiders safety Christopher Smith II and defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera, two members of the team's 2023 draft class, have used their experience to help former teammates prepare for next month's draft.

Smith, who won back-to-back titles with the Georgia Bulldogs, has been in contact with prospects Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith, two of his former defensive back teammates. The two prospects both love the idea of joining Smith at the NFL level.

"[I] talked to Chris maybe two days ago," Bullard said at the NFL Combine on Thursday. "And it would be amazing, it would be amazing to be in Las Vegas with my brother."

Both Bullard and Tykee Smith are actually in a group chat with Smith.

"We still keep in touch -- me, him, Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter -- we're all in a group chat just talking about this process, what to expect from this process, and him giving us tips on how he handled it," Tykee Smith said. "So, it definitely would be a blessing to [reunite] with Chris Smith."

Silvera finished his college career at Arizona State but had transferred from Miami (Fla.), where he was part of a defense that included safety prospect Kamren Kinchens.

"He [Silvera] gave me advice -- we don't talk like that [often], but if I was to ask him something, it would be right away he would give me an answer," Kinchens said. The prospect said Silvera told him to "be confident" and "true to yourself."

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.

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