With the No. 79 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Malcolm Koonce, an edge rusher from the University of Buffalo.
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, a selection that most of the fan base was not happy with. It is not that Leatherwood is not a solid player, but he was not seen as a first-round talent by many experts, so the expectation was that they could have gotten him in the second round.
However, he was the pick and entering Day 2, the Raiders held three more selections. Originally slated to pick at No. 48 overall, the Silver and Black traded up for Trevon Moehrig, a dynamic free safety from TCU. With that pick, the Raiders added two players within their first two picks that fit needs, so you have to think they certainly improved their roster.
As the draft entered the third round, Las Vegas held back-to-back picks, and with the No. 79 overall selection, they went an edge rusher.
Raiders select Malcolm Koonce at No. 79
The Raiders needed help along the edge, even with Yannick Ngakoue coming aboard, and they got some with the selection of Malcolm Koonce. This is a kid who led the MAC in sacks back in 2019, and the Raiders are a franchise that has had luck selecting edge-rushing linebacker types from Buffalo before.
After the pick, Mel Kiper Jr. from ESPN raved about the selection, so while he is not a big-name player in this draft class, he certainly fits a need. The Raiders needed to go defense-heavy on Day 2, and they certainly did that here.
There is still a lot of work to do with this roster, as the Silver and Black are still in need of cornerback help, as well as depth up front along the defensive line in the interior.
Las Vegas Raiders quick reaction NFL Grades 2021: Trevon Moehrig
With a huge need for defensive players, the Las Vegas Raiders made their move and got a fan favorite with Trevon Moehrig at No. 43 overall.
Las Vegas picked right after No. 79, and went defense again, picking up Virginia Tech defensive back Divine Deablo. As always, continue to follow the 2021 NFL Draft utilizing our draft tracker, where you can find analysis, grades, and the current list of players selected by the Silver and Black in 2021.