The Raiders are relying on a lot of young players on defense this season including the likes of Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell and Johnathan Abram. But no defender may be more important to the team that cornerback Trayvon Mullen.
After a solid rookie season, Mullen developed into the team’s top cornerback and the Raiders felt comfortable enough with his performance to trade away Gareon Conley and allow Daryl Worley to hit free agency. Now, Mullen is the unquestioned No. 1 cornerback on the team and is poised for a big season in Vegas.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, Mullen was named one of the league’s biggest breakout candidates entering the season. Take a look at their thoughts on the former Clemson defensive back below:
Mullen had one of the more underappreciated rookie seasons of 2019. Don’t get me wrong, the 10 penalties he accumulated after being named the starter in Week 8 were a knock on him (tied for most in NFL), but he performed extremely well in press coverage as a first-year player. On 118 coverage snaps in press, Mullen allowed only three first downs and a 42.4 passer rating when targeted. His length comes in handy and also helps him win at the catch point (eight pass breakups in starts from Week 8 on, tied for fifth). Mullen is an extremely physical player, but as I alluded to, that cost him last year. If Mullen knows his limits in 2020, he is bound to break out. But that’s a big “if.”
If the Raiders are serious about making a push for the playoffs this season, their defense is going to have to improve. One way that will be possible is if Mullen can become one of the league’s better cornerbacks. That’s a tough ask for a second-year defender, but he certainly has the talent to emerge as a star in the NFL. Look for Mullen to have a big year in Paul Guenther’s defense, assuming he can cut back on the penalties.
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