Las Vegas Raiders: 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft after first free agency wave

With the 80th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders go back to addressing needs on defense by selecting safety James Wiggins from the University of Cincinnati. Wiggins is a two-year starter with the Bearcats who redshirted in 2016, played sparingly in 2017, and then became a starter in his redshirt sophomore season in 2018 where he was named Second-Team All-AAC.

His career took a pause in 2019 after he tore his ACL  but came back strong in 2020 with 32 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, and 6 passes defended in 9 games. Wiggins was named First Team All-AAC for his efforts and was named to The Athletic’s First-Team All-American list. The senior was unable to build on his resume in the Peach Bowl against Georgia due to a calf injury but there is plenty of tape already out there.

Wiggins has good size at 6’0″, 205lbs, and can reportedly run his 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds while putting up 18 reps on the bench press. We will have to wait until April to see his full numbers from his pro day but Wiggins looks to measure well across the board.

It is unlikely that the Raiders will plug him at free safety right away as they are reportedly looking for help at that position in free agency. The long-term plan would be to have Wiggins as the eventual starter but there will need to be a bridge player on the roster until he gets comfortable.