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The Raiders struck gold on Day 2 and Day 3 of the 2021 NFL draft when they selected Trevon Moehrig and Nate Hobbs. Finding two quality defensive backs in the same draft outside of Round 1 is nearly impossible, but that’s exactly what they did last year.
However, the Raiders need to continue to add to their secondary if they want to improve the defense. Casey Hayward Jr. is a free agent and Trayvon Mullen is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Luckily for the Raiders, the 2022 draft class is loaded with cornerback talent. Even at pick No. 22, the Raiders should be able to grab an instant starting outside cornerback.
In a recent mock draft by Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports, he paired Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with the Raiders at the end of Round 1. Here is why he believes that he could be an instant star in Las Vegas:
“Elam is a long, ultra-physical cornerback with good fluidity for a defensive back his size. The Raiders have to get stronger in their secondary.”
If the Raiders stick with Gus Bradley as their defensive coordinator, Elam would make a ton of sense given his length. He is a perfect fit in a Cover 3 defense that prioritizes size and athleticism.
Elam played in 30 games at Florida, totaling five interceptions and 20 pass deflections. He is still a bit raw, but he has all the tools to be a shutdown cornerback in the NFL.
The Raiders have several other needs this offseason, including at wide receiver and offensive line. However, finding quality defensive backs isn’t as easy as the Raiders made it look last offseason.
Don’t be surprised if the Raiders decide to continue to improve their secondary early in the 2022 NFL draft.
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