Las Vegas Raiders quick reaction NFL Grades 2021: Jimmy Morrissey
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders made their final selection of the 2021 NFL Draft at pick No. 230, selecting Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrissey.
The Las Vegas Raiders are officially done with the 2021 NFL Draft, as they made their seventh and final selection at pick No. 230 overall. Las Vegas made it a point to bolster the defense during Day 2 and 3, and though they went exclusively defense before this pick, they ended the way they started but adding an offensive lineman.
The pick at No. 230 overall was Jimmy Morrissey, a big-bodied center from Pitt. Morrissey was the captain of the Panthers during his time at the school, which has become a theme this year, as it seems nearly every selection of the Raiders was the captain of their school last year.
Las Vegas traded away All-Pro center Rodney Hudson this offseason, and he will be replaced by a combination of Nick Martin and Andre James in 2021. However, Morrissey could be the long-term solution at the position, as he was a three-time All-ACC selection at Pitt, and is an inspirational story, as he started his college career as a walk-on.
Morrissey could be a long-term solution for the Raiders
Morrissey is obviously not going to be a starter right away at the NFL level, and he could turn out to just be a piece for depth in the long run. Still, the center spot is up in the air for the Raiders this season, as it went from being a strength to a question mark, and Morrissey is a guy who is going to push people.
The grade is low on this one, not because I believe that Morrissey is a bad player, but the Raiders should have gone another route with this final pick. They could have went with a defensive tackle, or maybe even a wide receiver, as the center is a position they have enough bodies at heading into the summer months.