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

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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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Safety Tyree Gillespie #3 from Missouri of the American Team warms up before the start of the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Safety Tyree Gillespie #3 from Missouri of the American Team warms up before the start of the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Raiders: 3 words to describe each 2021 picks rookie season

Tyree Gillespie: Not Enough Film

The Raiders originally held the 162nd overall pick, but for the second time in the ’21 draft, they elected to move up and grab a player they’ve had their eyes on. Like the first trade up in the second-round, this player was also a safety – Tyree Gillespie.

Las Vegas had just taken a second safety one pick prior, with Virginia Tech’s Divine Deablo. Unlike Deablo, though, there were no plans to swap this safety’s position around.

Gillespie didn’t play much, and as a result, he didn’t achieve much. However, he did get in on 8 tackles, which is an incredible number considering he logged just 13 defensive snaps. Altogether, this means the rookie was involved in a tackle on 61.5% of the downs he played. The season might’ve been bare for Gillespie, but he can take pride in that regard.

Moving forward, it’s hard to imagine we’ll get to see much of the fourth-round pick. Duron Harmon was brought in as the team’s third safety, and can play both safety positions. Furthermore, general manager Dave Ziegler brought back Roderic Teamer, so it’s fair to assume there’s a vision with him.

If Gillespie does find room in the safety rotation, it will certainly be interesting to see what he can do.