Las Vegas Raiders: Non-first round 2020 picks who must have an impact in 2021
By Alex Perl
Las Vegas Raiders: Non-first round 2020 picks who must have an impact in 2021
Amik Robertson
The best move for Amik Robertson was the release of slot corner Lamarcus Joyner. The Raiders signed Joyner with the hope he would add a veteran presence to the Raider defense and provide stability in the secondary.
This turned out to be a failed move for the Raiders, which can be said for almost the entirety of the now famed 2019 failed free agency class. With the release of Joyner, the slot position is now up for grabs, and no one is sure how this will play out.
With veteran cornerback Casey Hayward joining the fray, it seems at least from his perspective he will be playing the outside opposite Trayvon Mullen, or maybe Damon Arnette will be in his position. There are no guarantees here, and possibly Arnette moves inside to the slot.
Either way, snaps have completely opened up in the slot and Amik is the only “true” slot cornerback on the roster. With a big camp, Robertson could take over duties. The Raiders staff is very high on Robertson with head coach Jon Gruden even comparing the cornerback to former star corner Ronde Barber from his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With a knack for making a big hit, exceptional speed, and coverage speed, Robertson may not grab the slot position on day one, but he will certainly take on a much larger snap count in 2021. Look for the talented former Louisiana Tech product to have a much larger role for the Raiders in 2021, and do not be shocked if, by midseason, he is the primary slot corner.
When it comes to the rest of the Raiders non-Day 1 picks, expect to see a healthy Tanner Muse featuring in some spot time at linebacker as well as featuring on special teams.
John Simpson will also get some meaningful snaps on occasion on the offensive line as the Raiders have completely revamped the front there. The 2020 draft class should all see an expanded role, and who knows, maybe there are some future diamonds in the rough from this class.