Being drafted into the NFL can be a big deal. Even being a priority undrafted free agent can be a big deal. But neither the draft nor the undrafted free agent frenzy ultimately gauges whether a player will succeed in the NFL. Jalen Richard was neither of those things.
Richard has already put together a 4-year career, and now he’s signed a 2-year extension that would keep him with the Raiders through 2021. And he came into the NFL as an afterthought.
Coming out of Southern Mississippi with just one standout season, Richard was not any teams’ radars. There are some 256 players drafted and then just as many, if not more who are signed in the minutes following the draft. The 5-8, 205-pounder was not among any of them. He would have to try out.
Richard got an invite to the Raiders rookie minicamp in Alameda. Media in attendance isn’t even given the names of the players who were there for tryouts. Some of the players are revealed by their agents, but even then, you have to do some guesswork as to who is who.
That year, there were two tryout running backs. I can’t recall the name of the other player. That’s not important. What I do remember is seeing one of those backs out there and being suitably impressed by his obvious talents as a running back. That was Richard. And after his tryout, he was signed to the roster and he hasn’t looked back.
He has become a change-of-pace back and reliable receiver out of the backfield for the Raiders. Just a season ago, he tied for the team lead in receptions (68) for a career-high 607 yards receiving.
Shortly after he had signed his 2-year extension with the team, Richard went to twitter to share in his accomplishment and how he got here.
It must be downright surreal for Richard, who remembers he had round trip flight plans that ended up being one way. Now 2.550 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns later and he’s still going. Now he’s a veteran and still carving out an NFL career.
