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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: Cornerback Nate Hobbs #39 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Cornerback Nate Hobbs #39 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Raiders: 3 words to describe each 2021 picks rookie season

Nate Hobbs: Unreal Rookie Season

The Raiders continued their theme of drafting secondary players by adding Illinois’ cornerback Nate Hobbs, and what a pick this was.

Through the 16 games Hobbs appeared in, he tallied 74 tackles, 9 pass breakups and an interception. Not only did the corner make his presence known in coverage, but he also excelled against the run, being patient and a willing tackler. The most impressive part – Hobbs was an outside corner who the coaches rolled the dice with at the slot. Jackpot, baby.

While some found Hobbs’ dominance surprising, the Raiders’ coaching staff never had any doubts. Before knowing the fifth-round pick was their selection, Las Vegas’ staff met with him on a zoom call. On this call, former general manager Mike Mayock claimed Hobbs “knocked it out of the park”.

“The coaches drilled him. He got an A+ on that drill”.

Las Vegas’ slot cornerback ended the season with flowers from every media outlet, including Pro Football Focus, where he earned a grade of 78.4 – A number that was not only the highest among all rookie corners, but the highest among all slot corners leaguewide, with a 100 snap count minimum. In addition, Hobbs made the PFF All-Rookie team, and ranked no.79 on PFF’s top-101 players.

Hobbs was selected using the pick acquired from Seattle in exchange for Gabe Jackson.

Seventh-round pick Jimmy Morrissey is no longer with the team, but his three words would be, “rooting for you”. Once a Raider, Always a Raider, and Morrissey is no exception.

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