2021 NFL Draft: Grading how the Las Vegas Raiders addressed their needs
2021 NFL Draft: Grading how the Las Vegas Raiders addressed their needs
Need Addressed: Linebacker
The two linebackers that Las Vegas drafted came in the form of safety Divine Deablo and pass rusher Malcolm Koonce. Deablo, who is about 6’4 and 230 pounds, has a big frame and good speed that allows him to match up well against the monstrous tight ends of the NFL.
His time spent at safety gives him useful experience and knowledge in coverage, and he is not foreign to playing linebacker, as he would often slide down and fill the role at Virginia Tech. So, adding Deablo should help the Las Vegas defense matchup against threats like Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
Malcolm Koonce’s was a bit of a shocker, and maybe a bit of a reach. Koonce, who had the potential to slip into the fourth or fifth round, was taken by Mayock and Gruden in the third round. This potential reach doesn’t mean he is a bad player, though. During three of his four years at the University of Buffalo, Koonce finished the season with 12 sacks or more.
The sacks were possible thanks to Koonce’s ability to bend, move, and attack with speed off of the edge. Throwing him into the Las Vegas pass rush group that already features guys like Yannick Ngokue and Maxx Crosby should greatly improve Las Vegas’ chances at reaching the quarterback.
Grade: B+