Las Vegas Raiders: 2021 Draft class mid-season Report Card
By Nico Di Fede
Las Vegas Raiders: 2021 Draft class mid-season Report Card
Round 3, Pick 80: Divine Deablo, LB
Like 2020 3rd-round pick Tanner Muse, Divine Deablo is another college safety that the Raiders drafted with plans of converting him to linebacker, though let’s hope it doesn’t play out similarly as it did with Muse.
Outside of week three against Miami, all of the rookie’s snaps have been on special teams, which is at least more than can be said for Koonce, who hasn’t logged a single snap period.
It shouldn’t be surprising considering he is transitioning to a new position, but it looks like both picks in the third round may have been early, as both seem like projects. It can be acceptable to take a chance on a project in round three but selecting two in a round where you expect to get contributors doesn’t seem like the best logic.
Deablo does have a nice blend of size and athleticism, so I was not at all mad at the selection at the time and it may still prove to be a good one. But without much impact from him or Koonce, it makes both picks, from a pure value and strategic standpoint look questionable.
Because of his lack of snaps on defense, I don’t feel I can adequately grade his play, however, grading the pick itself is still fair game given that.
- Performance Grade: N/A
- Pick Grade: C-