Las Vegas Raiders pre-free agency 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

Raiders get a safety in Round 1

The Raiders have been searching for a dominant free safety since Reggie Nelson made his last Pro Bowl trip in 2016 and Charles Woodson made his triumphant return to Oakland as a free safety. The Damarious Randall experiment was aborted before it even really started, and having Erik Harris back there was never a recipe for success even if he made some big plays during his tenure.

This is where Trevon Moehrig comes in to the picture. Declared by many as the best free safety in college this year, Moehrig is a versatile player that can fill all sorts of needs for a team but is at his best when he can play center field as a single-high safety.

The former TCU Horned Frog is solidly built at 6’2″, 203lbs, and runs a 40 in the 4.5 range, giving him the size to match up with tight ends and big receivers and the speed to make rangey plays. He also has shown a willingness to make plays in the run game and is not afraid of sticking his nose in and getting involved in the action near the line of scrimmage.

Moehrig is a playmaker as well as he displayed with seven interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 33 games with the Horned Frogs. He fits an immediate need but is also one of the best players in the draft in a slightly weak safety class.

Adding him to this defensive unit, perhaps along with a veteran safety to learn from as well, would represent a massive improvement for the Raider defense.