INDIANAPOLIS — As the NFL Combine kicks off, John Spytek is staying true to the message he's delivered since Day 1 on the job.

Speaking with local and national media Tuesday, the Raiders general manager doubled down that there are no shortcuts to rebuilding this roster. Spytek made it clear he understands the scope of the challenge ahead, stressing that lasting success starts with constructing a solid foundation.

"You can see every year there's teams that rise fast and fall fast," he said, "and we're trying to rise and stay there."

Based off his comments in Indianapolis, here are a few takeaways on the direction the general manager is aiming to steer the Raiders.

1. The Raiders GM has said several times over the last two months that he wants to "build this team the right way." What that entails is building from the ground up with a priority on hitting on draft picks as well as developing and keeping homegrown talent.

When asked to name the most important intangible a player must have, he made it clear there's a certain type of player who won't even make it onto his draft board.

"Somebody who doesn't love football. It's way too hard of a game with too big expectations. Those guys just don't do it for me," he said. "And there's different examples in colleges, that guys don't love it to the level that we want and you're guessing a little bit as to what they're going to do when they come to the NFL and come to Vegas. But more of a conviction in the right type of person."

That focus on finding players who truly love football set up his next point: how the introduction of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) in college sports has unexpectedly added another layer in evaluating character.

"I actually think it's made it easier," Spytek said, "because you know what the guys are going to do when they have money. ... Just because they've got more money than we all had when we were in college, they still prepare the right way, they play the right way, they love the game, they're there for their teammates, and I think it's kind of been a little been illuminating to the character of who they are."

2. The question surrounding the Raiders right now is what will they do with the No. 1 overall pick. And rightfully so.

Spytek, along with several members in the Raiders front office, traveled to South Florida in January for the CFP National Championship Game to see projected top pick Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers conquer the Miami Hurricanes, 27-21.

"I enjoyed watching all of them compete at that level," Spytek said of the national title game, "and make the plays when a lot was expected of them in the biggest moments and that's what you're looking for. We're looking for guys that have proven in the biggest moments they don't blink and it was awesome all the way around."

While many people believe Mendoza will be the team's top choice, Spytek emphasized he'll be doing everything to improve the roster around the quarterback position so anyone in that position, albeit a rookie or veteran, isn't at a disadvantage. He mentioned that with the cap space the team has, they must be aggressive in free agency before making it to draft day.

"I think you want to limit the amount of pressure you have on that guy from the start. If you have a young quarterback, I'm not necessarily in favor of running him out there right away either. ... And obviously, a great offensive line, a run game, all the things that can limit his chances to really get killed. And a great defense too, because if he doesn't feel like he's got to go out there and score 35 points every week, I think that's helpful."

3. While the Raiders turn their attention toward the 2026 draft class, there's still a huge emphasis on developing the players they just selected in 2025.

Outside of Ashton Jeanty, the rest of the draft class received a sparing amount of playing time. However, players such as Jack Bech, Tonka Hemingway and Caleb Rogers showed great promise after receiving more reps later in the season. The Raiders general manager stated he's looking forward to them taking a leap in their sophomore campaign.

"I saw them every day in practice. I saw them get better," Spytek said. "It was good to see a lot of them play more at the end of the year and have success. I mean, Tonka had a bunch of sacks the last few games. JJ [Pegues] had had a chance to play. ... So, I'm comfortable with where those guys are at. They're about the right things. They're football guys first. They're in the building training every day. I don't think Caleb Rogers has missed a day since the season ended right now. So, I'm happy with those guys. They're on the right path."

"I trust Jack Bech the football player," he added on Bech, who totaled 12 receptions in his last five games of the season. "Where he aligns, we're going to move people over the place. I think you guys saw how Klint [Kubiak] used JSN [Jaxson Smith-Njigba]. They're going to move him all over the place.

4. With rumors of trading Maxx Crosby circulating since the end of the season, Spytek shut them down in Indianapolis, saying he's confident that the edge rusher will remain in Las Vegas.

"Maxx is an elite player, and I've been very upfront from the start when I got here that we're in the business of having really good players on the team, and we need a lot more of them. And it's hard to build a great team without elite players."

"Maxx and I have a great relationship," Spytek added. "He's in the building every day getting healthy right now. We talk on the phone. We text. So, I have a great relationship with Maxx."