Las Vegas Raiders select a surprising cornerback at pick No. 19

The Las Vegas Raiders had two big needs heading into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and they addressed them with surprising picks at No. 12 and No. 19.

Earlier in the draft with the 12th overall pick, the Las Vegas Raiders added wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. Las Vegas was on the clock once again with the19th overall pick and added a defensive playmaker to help sure up their secondary.

With the 19th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Raiders have selected cornerback Damon Arnette out of Ohio State University. Prior to the start of the draft, the Raiders’ defense lacked a starting cornerback opposite of last year’s second-round pick Trayvon Mullen, and inserting Arnette now provides them with a young, but talented duo in the secondary.

Aside from Nevin Lawson, the Raiders’ cornerback corps lacks a player who’s started a full season in the NFL. Not only was filling one of the starting spots at cornerback a need but adding depth to the position was a need as well. Inserting Arnette alongside Mullen allows each cornerback on the depth chart to move down a spot on the totem pole.

Arnette finished his college career with 104 tackles, five interceptions, 22 pass breakups and two forced fumble over four seasons. In 2019, Arnette ranked second in the BIG-10 among interception return yards with 96 on the year.

While the need to address the cornerback position was a big one, Arnette seems like a bit of a reach here. Most had a second or third round grade on him, but general manager Mike Mayock likes tough kids from big-time programs, and Arnette fits that bill.

Arnette is a solid press-man corner, which plays right into Paul Guenther’s scheme on the defensive side of the ball. After the likes of Jeffrey Okudah and C.J. Henderson, the cornerback position had a drop off, and it may have been wiser for the team to trade back and possibly get a late first round pick, or a second.

However, they apparently could not get any takers, and had to draft for need at No. 19.

The Raiders currently sit without a second-round pick but do possess three selections in the third round. On the final day of the NFL Draft, Las Vegas is set to pick once in the fourth and once in the fifth round, so there is still a lot of work left to do.