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Coming into the draft, the Raiders’ top two needs were clearly wide receiver and cornerback. They ended up drafting two players at each position, but each one being a different type than the other.
At cornerback specifically, they used their pick at 19 overall to get Damon Arnette. At that pick, he is being looked at as an immediate starter on the outside.
Before all was said and done, the Raiders had five picks between the third and fourth rounds. And with the last one, they got another cornerback in Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson. This selection to get someone who can play inside.
“Ultimately he looks like a nickel to me, but he’s played mostly outside at La Tech,” Mike Mayock said of Robertson. “I talked to his defensive coordinator this morning Bobby Diaco . . . I asked him the same question, just to confirm what I saw on tape that he’s an inside out guy. And Bob said ‘yeah, you’re not going to like his length outside, but you’re going to love his feet, toughness, and competitiveness’. Ultimately to me he’s got the physical competitiveness and toughness that you would love as a nickel in the NFL.”
Last season it was Lamarcus Joyner who manned that nickel corner spot. The results weren’t stellar, so he is going to need to step up to keep playing that position.
Joyner is also versatile, with the ability to play safety as well if need be. Last season, the Raiders had several injuries at the safety spot, including Karl Joseph for the season. But with no one who could step in for Joyner at nickel, they opted to keep him there and cycle through several other players, including starting cornerback, Daryl Worley.
Clearly depth was needed. Whether Robertson is able to move from depth to starter will be up to him. He certainly has the confidence in his abilities, that’s for sure.
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