Las Vegas Raiders and Dillon Stoner Get Head Start on Rookie Minicamp

STILLWATER – According to former Oklahoma State wide receiver and punt returner Dillon Stoner’s dad, Steve, there were four NFL teams working to get Stoner as a rookie free agent as the NFL Draft was in it’s final stages last Saturday. In the end the Raiders said they would top anybody’s offer and they pointed out that they did not draft a receiver. There is good opportunity for Stoner in the desert and a former teammate in Marcell Ateman on the roster as well. Stoner flew out to Las Vegas on Wednesday and will participate in the rookie minicamp this weekend.

The NFL allows teams to hold three-day rookie minicamps on either this coming weekend May 7-9 or the next weekend May 14-16 before the NFL calendar turns toward full team OTAs. Steve Stoner told Pokes Report that the Raiders had already sent a playbook to Dillon and that his son had his head into it pretty good before leaving Tulsa on his flight to Las Vegas.

AP Jerry Larson

Stoner is clutch and capable of being the same in the NFL.

In his extended time at Oklahoma State, the 6-0, 200-pound Stoner had 191 receptions for 2,378-yards and 17 touchdowns. He stepped in twice for Baltimore Ravens fourth-round pick Tylan Wallace last season and at Baylor had eight catches for a career best 247-yards and three touchdowns. In the 2019 season, Stoner stepped in for Wallace the last five games of the season moving from slot receiver to wide out and the Z and he totaled 27 receptions in those games for 367-yards and five touchdowns.

Stoner is a more explosive athlete than many give him credit for being. The Raiders really wanted him.

The rest of the Cowboys either drafted or signed free agent will start their NFL experience the next weekend. Wallace confirmed that the Ravens have sent him a plane ticket for May 12. Chuba Hubbard has signed his rookie four-year contract and will also report for that weekend to Carolina.

The same goes for the Big 12’s top draft choice and former Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins as he will be in Lake Forest, Ill. for the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp. Calvin Bundage will be in Pittsburgh with the Steelers and Amen Ogbongbemiga outside of Los Angeles with the Chargers for minicamp.

Oklahoma State Athletics

Murray impressed on Pro Day with a 4.89 forty. The Cardinals are a good team for him to be with.

I spoke to defensive tackle Cameron Murray on Thursday about 30 minutes before he was going into another Zoom meeting with Arizona Cardinals assistant defensive line coach Rusty McKinney.

“It was a good experience and you know I had other teams that text my agent, you know, toward the end of the draft,” Murray said of the process. “They were telling me they might draft me or would want me to sing free agent. Then after the draft the Cardinals called and told me they weren’t going to sign any other defensive tackles besides me. It was a great fit and it was good of my agent to get me that opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals organization.”

Like Stoner, Murray is already in the process and is cramming the studying to be prepared to make good on his opportunity.

“I’ve been meeting with the assistant defensive line coach every day,” Murray added. “I’ve been learning the playbook and they told me that they really wanted me and I know there will be eyes on me when I get there. They fly me out May 12 and the minicamp is that weekend. I can’t wait to get started.”

Stoner may get a few calls from his former teammates after the weekend because I’m sure they are all curious about what to expect.