The Oakland Raiders made Elijah Hood the sixth and final Tar Heel drafted in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was selected the seventh round (#242 overall) that year.
Hood failed to climb the depth chart in his first season for Oakland. The Charlotte native only appeared in one game and didn’t receive a carry.
After finishing the season on the practice squad, Hood signed a reserve/futures contract with the Raiders. The Sophomore running back was cut four months later by a new regime headed by Jon Gruden.
He remained on waivers a mere day before being scooped up by the Panthers.