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Raiders NFL Draft: 3 words to describe each 2021 picks rookie season

By Alexander Monfreda

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Alex Leatherwood is selected 17th by the Las Vegas Raiders during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Alex Leatherwood is selected 17th by the Las Vegas Raiders during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Linebacker Divine Deablo #5 and running back Sutton Smith #41 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate as they walk off the field after the team’s 35-32 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Linebacker Divine Deablo #5 and running back Sutton Smith #41 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate as they walk off the field after the team’s 35-32 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Raiders: 3 words to describe each 2021 picks rookie season

Divine Deablo: Learning New Position

Deablo came out of Virginia Tech as a safety with minimum linebacker experience, although he was always projected to make the switch at the next level. Through the start of his pro-career, the unfamiliar territory proved to get the better of him.

As the year went on, Deablo began to improve, eventually taking the starting job from Cory Littleton. For the ’21 season, he posted 45 sacks and 1 pass defensed, while adding a fumble recovery to his resume.

The former safety was often picked on underneath, allowing 15.7 yards per completion on a 70% completion percentage. The most positive takeaway from the ’21 season was his 1 missed tackle in 46 tackle attempts, proving to be reliable at taking down the ball carrier.

Under Gus Bradley, Deablo didn’t have to show much versatility. He only rushed the quarterback 7 times and stayed in one linebacker position. This likely was beneficial for the 23-year-old’s transition to linebacker, but now going into a scheme where versatility is prioritized, it could just as easily be his Achilles’ heel.

Still, being new to the position, Deablo is a blank canvas, and Graham hopes to be the painter.

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