Once-In-A-Lifetime Mix-Up Ended With One NFL Rookie Joining The Las Vegas Raiders Instead Of Their AFC Rival*
Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Rayshad Williams, a cornerback for Texas Tech, was among the first players added to the Miami Dolphins undrafted free agency tracker when it was revealed by Justin Melo of The Draft Network that he was going to South Beach to start his NFL career.
Only there is one issue. Williams never had a conversation with the Miami Dolphins.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald revealed that the former Texas Tech cornerback got an offer from the Las Vegas Raiders, but his representative mistakenly believed they were talking with the Dolphins on the phone.
The mix-up came about after a veteran Dolphins front office official left for the Raiders, and Williams’ representation assumed the guy was still with Miami.
Williams’ camp called the Dolphins to get more clarity, and they offered him an invite to their NFL camp. The Raiders did one better and offered a full contract, so Rayshad decided to take his talents to Las Vegas instead. That made more sense, considering they were interested in him in the beginning.
The 6’3 and 215-pound cornerback Williams would have made a fascinating addition to the Dolphins secondary in the NFL. However, it is said that Miami is signing undrafted free-agent defensive backs Isaiah Johnson of Syracuse and Storm Duck of Louisville.
Williams totaled 136 tackles in his collegiate career, including 3.5 tackles for loss and one interception. In addition, he had one fumble recovery and 26 passes defended, via ESPN.com.
Put this one in your back pocket, as it’ll be an all-time story if Williams turns into something for the Raiders in the near future.
The Las Vegas Raiders Looking To Make Some Real Noise In The NFL
Antonio Pierce (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Back when they were still in Oakland, the Raiders lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII and did not return to the postseason until the 2016 season. They lost again in 2021 to the Bengals.
That is a long time between NFL playoff appearances and even longer without securing a victory.
The team has been riding high since firing head coach Josh McDaniels and having Antonio Pierce sign on full-time.
Once the team secures the quarterback of the future, the franchise can look to make some real noise in the league.
