Las Vegas Raiders: 2021 Mock Draft Roundup entering March
Sports Illustrated- Zack Patraw
- Pick #17: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
- Pick #48: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
- Pick #81: CB Aaron Robinson, UCF
Now, you talk about an out-of-the-box mock draft; SI’s Zack Patraw provided one as he has the Raiders taking a player few have mocked this early in the first round. Gus Bradley’s scheme lends itself to corner with size and length, so Eric Stokes fits the profile, but his ceiling doesn’t seem to hit mid-first round pick.
"“There have been reports of Stokes measuring in at over 6-feet tall and 190-plus pounds. If that’s the case, with his speed and length, it becomes a no-brainer for the Raiders, who have struggled with depth in the secondary.”"
I can’t help but feel like this would be another Damon Arnette type reach if the Raiders went this direction.
Less of a reach would be selecting UNC’s linebacker Chazz Surratt, who Patraw has as the Raiders’ second-round pick. Surratt is a versatile and athletic prospect who has shown the ability to be a serious playmaker despite being new to the position.
He only began playing linebacker in 2019 after being, of all things, a quarterback for two seasons at UNC and throughout high school. With still a ton to learn, Surratt could just be scratching the surface of the player he can become.
At pick No. 81, the Raiders go back to the secondary with a different UCF player in cornerback Aaron Robinson. A tough and physical prospect who has experience playing both in the slot and as an outside corner, Robinson is not afraid to come up and play the run and, in coverage, can succeed in the man or zone.
He had some first-round buzz for a while, but his length is not ideal (30” arms), and he isn’t an unreal athlete. Patraw certainly is confident in his evaluation with this mock. Given the Raiders’ propensity to make surprising picks in the first round, I can’t dismiss them taking a guy like Stokes this early.