Raiders Insider Podcast: Undrafted Free Agent McClendon Curtis
HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2023 NFL Draft in need of help on the offensive line.
They made seven quality picks through all three days of the draft, but none lined up on the offensive line.
But, Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler didn't wait long to address it and addressed it in a big way.
McClendon Curtis is the size of a mountain at 6-6 and 325 pounds, and while that may scream the size of the prototypical offensive tackle, he can play all five places on the offensive line and thrives as a guard.
Guard is where the Raiders see the versatile Curtis playing for the Silver and Black.
People who watch Curtis and marvel at his athleticism aren't surprised that he played in Tennessee. But don't be fooled; he didn't show off his talent in Rocky Top; instead, he shined in the picturesque landscape of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The FCS program has a long tradition, and Kevin Revis, the assistant head coach, and offensive line coach, helped mold Curtis for his senior campaign.
Revis is a rising young star in college football as a coach, and despite his youth, he is an incredible teacher of the game of football and helps shape young men as players and people. In his career, Revis has produced 12 All-Americans under his tutelage.
We spoke with Revis in detail about the player, teammate, man, and person that Curtis is and what he expects from him with the Silver and Black.
Revis and Curtis are close, using terms like: "I love him like a son," and: "He's the kind of young man you want your daughter to marry."
Curtis performed well at the NFL Combine, but with a bevy of interior linemen, many teams gambled on players from larger programs. That is fine for a team to do what they want, but they overlooked Curtis at their own expense.
Gambling on players because of where they played and not how they played isn't wise. The gifted tactician Revis has the athletic and impressively talented Curtis ready for his next step in the NFL.
One NFL Executive whose team didn't need an interior offensive lineman said of Curtis praising UTC: "You see plenty of kids with that size, but what makes Curtis intriguing is that he still has a ways to go, but that young man had coaching, good coaching."
Ziegler and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo loved Curtis, and shortly after the NFL Draft ended, Ziegler was in hot pursuit.
Most NFL teams had Curits with a fourth to sixth-round grade, so while an undrafted free agent, he walks into rookie mini-camp this week with a hefty chunk in his pocket and a legitimate shot to make the Raiders' 53-man roster.
The Raiders eventually signed him for an impressive $215,000 dollars, $25,000 of that as a signing bonus. While a paltry sum by NFL standards, for an undrafted free agent, that is a massive commitment. Curtis is a massive man.
I fully expect Curtis to make the Raiders' roster, and I encourage you to watch the above podcast with Revis.
The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:
OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8
Rookie Minicamp: May 12-14
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