One position that isn’t discussed enough as a potential option at No. 17 for the Raiders is safety. The secondary might just be the team’s biggest weakness right now and there are no viable free safety options currently on the roster. That is why TCU’s Trevon Moehrig needs to be discussed more as a possible selection for the Raiders in the first round.
Standing at 6’2, 202 pounds, Moehrig is one of the most well-round defensive backs in this year’s class. He’s been incredibly productive for three seasons at TCU with 20 pass defenses combined in 2019 and 2020. He’s got the ideal size to play free safety in Gus Bradley’s defense and he’s also a good enough tackler to play in the box, if needed.
In Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft at ESPN, Moehrig was the pick for the Raiders at No. 17. Here are his thoughts behind the possible pick and why he would make sense with 2019 first-round pick Johnathan Abram:
“The Raiders have used first-round picks on safeties twice in recent years, first in 2014 on Karl Joseph and then in 2019 on Johnathan Abram. Joseph didn’t work out, and Abram has played only 14 games the past two seasons, but both are box safeties with limitations in coverage. Moehrig is a more fluid athlete who can play as a deep safety. He has some range. He’s also not afraid to stick his head in and make a tackle. Vegas could also go with an edge rusher with this pick.”
Moehrig would be a plug-and-play starter for the Raiders at a position of need. Combine that with his athleticism and size and it’s not hard to buy him as a top-20 selection. There are some concerns about his ability to play as a centerfielder considering he didn’t do much of it in college. But it’s not like he’s proven that he can’t handle that role either.
If the Raiders can add to their pass-rush in free agency and find a viable cornerback, it wouldn’t be surprising if Moehrig was the eventual pick at No. 17. He should be on the shortlist of players the Raiders could pick in the first round.
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