Las Vegas Raiders: Expect two rookies to start early in 2021
By Brad Weiss
Las Vegas Raiders: Expect two rookies to start early in 2021
Trevon Moehrig opposite Johnathan Abram at safety
On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders knew they had to do something on all three levels, as Mike Mayock had stated that the team needed playmakers everywhere. They attacked the defense in free agency, adding a quality edge rusher in Yannick Ngakoue, while also bringing back safety Karl Joseph.
While Joseph was a great addition, he likely is not going to start, as the team traded up in the second round to select TCU star Trevon Moehrig at pick No. 43 overall. The hope is that he can team with 2019 first-round pick Johnathan Abram to give the Raiders two young and talented safeties in the starting lineup, allowing Joseph and 2021 Day 3 pick Tyree Gillespie to come off the bench as depth.
Overall, this rookie class has the talent to make a real impact in 2021, and will hopefully give the franchise more than the 2020 class did last year. That class had to deal with COVID and a bunch of other issues, but with all the young talent brought in over the last three draft classes, this is a make-or-break season for general manager Mike Mayock.