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.
The Las Vegas Raiders went offensive line in the first round with the selection of Alex Leatherwood. However, with so many needs on defense, the Raiders got a bit aggressive to start the second round by moving up five spots to get TCU safety Trevon Moehrig.
Moehrig was considered the top safety to many draft analysts, but he comes off the board as the third prospect taken behind Oregon’s Jevon Holland and UCF’s Richie Grant. Moehrig is a two-time All-Big 12 first-team player and won the Jim Thrope award in 2020.
He finished his career with 124 total tackles, seven interceptions, and 21 pass deflections and will now be a key piece in the Las Vegas defense.
Why the Pick Makes Sense for the Raiders
The Raiders have not had an impact player at the safety position since the retirement of Charles Woodson, so it makes sense to address the position. Plus, with the transition to Gus Bradley’s Cover 3 scheme, the need for free safety is pivotal, which is why many draft analysts had the Raiders taking him in round one.
The transition to single-high free safety will be a projection considering Moehrig played in a heavy split safety scheme at TCU. However, the athleticism and ball skills are all there for Moehrig to patrol the middle of the field.
How he helps the Las Vegas Raiders
With Moehrig on the team, Johnathan Abram can be moved down to a strong safety position that will feature him more in the box. A move that works well with his skill set and will allow him to be more prominent in the run game.
He also provides a level of playmaking on the backend that has simply been not existent in the Las Vegas secondary in the past few seasons. The Raiders had to get defensive players on day two, and they start it off with a player that not only fit a need but was excellent value.