Las Vegas Raiders go defense early in 7-round 2021 mock draft
By Alex Perl
Panthers . Patrick Jones II. 15. player. 866. . Edge
Las Vegas Raiders go defense early in 7-round 2021 mock draft
The Raiders invested a top-5 pick in 2019 in defensive end Clelin Ferrell from Clemson, and he definitely started to play better down the stretch. Another 2019 rookie, fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby, led the team in sacks, and made a serious push for the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
This offseason, the Raiders added free agent acquisition Carl Nassib, who has had at least six sacks in each of the past two seasons. You would assume that the Raiders would pass on an edge rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft, but Patrick Jones II from Pittsburgh is a game-changer with a superb blend of power and speed.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end will be one of the stars on defense in 2021 in the ACC, and he has the size, and speed to be a menace at the next level. With 11.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2019, he will look to be an even bigger force for Pitt in 2020, and if he is available at this pick, it is almost a no-brainer.