The Las Vegas Raiders selected Alabama lineman Alex Leatherwood with the 17th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, and Twitter reacted
The Las Vegas Raiders made their first selection of the 2021 NFL Draft by picking one of the most decorated linemen in college football in Alex Leatherwood. The former Alabama star has an impressive resume which includes two First Team All-SEC mentions and an Outland Trophy from the 2020 season.
Leatherwood was a three-year starter at Alabama that began his career as the starting right guard but shifted to left tackle for the last two seasons where he excelled. He fits in perfectly with the Raiders’ offensive line that is full of big bodies and road graders like Kolton Miller and Richie Incognito.
Some believe that the Raiders reached for Leatherwood as he would have likely been available when they picked in the second round but if he lives up to his selection that’s what truly matters. Many expected the Raiders to go defense in the first round while others had them linked to Christian Darrisaw or Teven Jenkins but Leatherwood ended up being the choice.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the selection.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network thought the Raiders reached for Leatherwood and called the pick a “surprise”.
The #Raiders came into the draft hoping an OT would fall to them. At No. 17, it’s Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood. A surprise is an understatement.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 30, 2021
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur also had Leatherwood as a likely second-round pick for the Raiders.
Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood is the pick. I had him being a very good second-round option for Raiders. Oh well.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) April 30, 2021
PFF Raiders believes Leatherwood will be the starting RT from day one and seem to be fans of the selection.
Alex Leatherwood projects as a starting RT day one.
— PFF Las Vegas Raiders (@PFF_Raiders) April 30, 2021
Run Block grade: 85.4
Zone Blocking grade: 87.1
Pass Block Grade: 73.4
Offensive line highlights are just the best and here are a few clips of Leatherwood moving people around for Alabama.
The Raiders select Bama OT Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 pick in the #NFLDraft ☠️ pic.twitter.com/fSCZYVHZsX
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 30, 2021
The Raiders are getting a player that projects immediately as a starter and while the consensus may be that they reached, if he lives up to the selection then that is all that matters. Every year there are many players that end up being labeled as “reaches” or bad picks but none of that matters until they actually hit the field and we get to see what they’re all about.
Las Vegas was in major need for a right tackle and in major need of help on the offensive line and they got just that with Leatherwood. They also get a mature player who was a team captain on a national championship team and the sky is the limit for Alex Leatherwood in Silver and Black.