NFL Draft: Raiders need OT Trevor Penning in the 1st Round

NFL Draft: Raiders need OT Trevor Penning in the 1st Round

Small school stigma be damned

Just because Penning attended a small school doesn’t mean he doesn’t have big-time potential as an NFL prospect. A noticeable attribute in his work is his mauler streak. He’s a bully. He’s the type of player that would make the old-school Raiders proud. Coming into the pros, Las Vegas won’t have to worry about beefing up Penning either.

He’s strong, so strong you can see him hold off defenders with just one arm. That’s downright scary.

Yes, he gets up too quickly at times, but he can anticipate speed very well, especially in pass protection. He also has noticeable length for his frame, a huge bonus since tackles with shorter arms tend to struggle when coming into the NFL. His motor also stands out; play after play, you see him finishing defenders until they’re on the ground, more so in the run game.

In college, he was a starter at left tackle but should be able to move to the opposite side. He has too many natural traits to not succeed.

Many fans want the Raiders to select the best defensive player available in April. On the contrary, they should be begging their team to pick up the right tackle. Yes, Leatherwood did not deliver, but how much of that was the organization’s overreaching with the pick?

Penning has the tools and natural ability to be a starting tackle out of the gate. Enough is enough. The Raiders need to stop addressing the right tackle spot by just patching it up. It’s time to lay a real foundation. Penning is exactly that.