Las Vegas Raiders could be in on Nevada-native Bubba Bolden
The Las Vegas Raiders met with Miami safety Bubba Bolden as the team looks to add quality depth to their defense at this April’s NFL draft.
The Raiders could end up making changes to the safety position as the newly hired defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, establishes a new scheme. As a backup in the NFL and on special teams, Bubba Bolden would be a naturally talented athlete who would be able to learn and grow as he plays for the Silver and Black.
Obviously, a meeting does not guarantee anything in terms of drafting. However, Bolden commented that it was a good talk, and he got a positive vibe from them, though he stated head coach Josh McDaniels was not present. For those not overly familiar with Bolden, the six-foot-three, 200 lb. Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist hails from Las Vegas and mentioned the possible distinction of playing in his hometown.
Miami DB Bubba Bolden confirms he met with the #Raiders during the #Combine
— Mario Tovar (@_MarioTovar) March 5, 2022
“That’s the hometown team right there. Very cool to talk them, got a good vibe from them.”
Raiders looking to bolster the secondary this offseason
As for the current crop of Raiders safeties, the team saw a lot of promise and potential in 2021 second-round pick Trevon Moehrig, who amassed six pass deflections. The future of Johnathan Abram is likely to be in doubt, mostly due to his coverage liabilities. While the Raiders’ organization has not made it known what, if any, role Abram will have in 2022, it’s something worth keeping an eye on.
Bolden wouldn’t be a starter, but under the right tutelage and direction, he could form a nice tandem with Moehrig one day. One of his biggest upsides that would help in his success under Graham would be his versatility. He displayed an ability to play both safety positions. He has sufficient range to be left as a single-high safety and can hold his own in the box thanks to his natural size and length.
If the Raiders can snag him with one of their fifth-round picks, they’d be acquiring a solid developmental prospect and, in that range, would provide plenty of potential as the team looks for instant starters in the first few rounds.