With the 230th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders end their day with offensive line help in Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrissey.
After trading All-Pro center Rodney Hudson in the offseason, promoting and then extending backup Andre James, and signing former Houston Texans starting center Nick Martin, there has been a lot of changeover not only along the entire offensive line but the center position in particular. The Las Vegas Raiders took what was a strength, and revamped it, and during the 2021 NFL Draft, they continued to add new faces.
Las Vegas filled their need of right tackle in the first round, taking Alex Leatherwood with the 17th overall pick. With their final pick in the draft, the Raiders added depth and more competition to the mix at center, picking Jimmy Morrissey out of the University of Pittsburgh.
Jimmy Morrissey started off his career with the Pittsburgh Panthers as a walk-on and has even won the Burlsworth Trophy which is given to the most outstanding collegiate football player who has started their career as a walk-on according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur.
He won the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given each year to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 1, 2021
Although Jimmy Morrissey started his career as a walk-on, that did not prevent him from starting at center for all four years at Pittsburgh which is pretty amazing. He also was not surprisingly a team captain for the past two seasons, which has been one of the most important qualities both Gruden and Mayock have looked for so far these past three seasons especially in this draft as all but one or two players in this draft were team captains.
Morrissey will more than likely be a fun project for Tom Cable for at least the first year or two to begin his career with the Raiders, as he has the ability to jump to guard as well, even though he played the majority of his career at the center position.
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Even though he is most likely a practice squad player this upcoming season, he has never backed down from a challenge, and as a former walk-on, is used to overcoming obstacles, so we will see if he can beat out current projected backup Nick Martin.