Raiders 2022 7-Round Mock Draft: Plenty of holes need to be addressed

Raiders mock draft: Round 5, Pick 164 – Smoke Monday, S, Auburn

The fifth round, though, is where Dave Ziegler can really put a bow on his successful offseason thus far. Getting his defensive coordinator a couple of more defensive reinforcements will pay dividends in the long run. The first fifth-round pick is Smoke Monday, the safety from Auburn. Monday will come into the NFL as one of the more balanced safety prospects.

PFF gave him solid grades across the board: 77.0 in coverage and 78.2 in both run defense and pass-rushing.

https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1330337618052206594?s=20

In college, he regularly showed off his ability to make big plays, such as his 100-yard touchdown interception return against Tennessee in 2020. However, he’s not afraid of putting in the dirty work, such as stifling runs, for example. He’s physically talented and has sufficient strength to bring down incoming running backs and tight ends.

His tackling is one of his more notable strengths, and he’ll make plays in the box for you, punishing offensive players on contact and attacking the run game with a violent streak. Maybe a potential replacement for Johnathan Abram? He’ll save the Raiders some coin considering the impending decision on his extension.