Defensive Back Karl Joseph, Defensive Lineman Jihad Ward, Linebacker Shilique Calhoun and Quarterback Connor Cook
After their first practice of Rookie Minicamp, the first four Raiders' draft picks fielded questions from the media.
Here are some of the best quotes from their respective press conferences:
Defensive Back Karl Joseph:
Joseph shared his thoughts about his experience since being drafted.
"It's been crazy, but I'm trying to enjoy every second of it. It's been a fun process for me and family, but now it's all about business. It's all about me getting healthy so I can play this year."
Fellow West Virginia alum Bruce Irvin has consistently been in Joseph's ear since he arrived in the Bay Area.
"I spoke to Bruce Irvin quite a bit, he's kind of helping me a little bit through the process, and getting adjusted and everything. It's good to have a player like that to kind of help me. He's been through it all, been in the league for a few years."
Defensive Lineman Jihad Ward:
Ward is ready to learn from the Raiders' coaching staff.
"I'm ready, but I still need coaches just to help me. You have to learn from the greats. I'm learning from all these coaches. [Defensive coordinator] Coach [Ken] Norton, [Jr.], [defensive line] coach [Jethro Franklin] and even Coach Del Rio. You can be great, but you have to learn from coaches. I'm [inaudible] from that and I'm confident with that."
Linebacker Shilique Calhoun:
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He's looking forward to reuniting with Connor Cook.**
"Of course I was excited to have a fellow Spartan here on the team as well. He actually reached out to me, FaceTimed me. We talked about it for a little bit. Just ready to get after it, to be honest. Two Spartans that want to come in here and make an impact, any way we can. [We] want to be great teammates. Definitely just try to stick it out here, make it last."
Quarterback Connor Cook:
It's all about taking it a day at a time.
"[Quarterbacks] Coach [Todd] Downing has been doing a great job with just taking it one day at a time. Not trying to force a lot of information on us QBs. Obviously, Garrett [Gilbert] has already been here. He knows a lot. He's doing a great job of taking me under his wing and coaching us up. Coach Downing has been going at a good pace. Not super slow, but not super fast, just the right pace. Making sure that we understand everything for when we come out for walk-throughs, when we come out for practice and everything like that."
