Raiders: What to expect in Year 2 for the 2021 NFL Draft picks
Nate Hobbs
The steal of the draft for the Las Vegas Raiders was Nate Hobbs, a fifth-round pick from Illinois who stepped in as a starting slot cornerback as a rookie. Hobbs was not expected to contribute the way he did as a rookie, but it was clear from the get-go that he was the perfect slot cornerback in Gus Bradley’s system.
Now, he enters Year 2 of his NFL career, and the hope is that he can continue to progress with a new defensive coordinator at the helm. Patrick Graham is going to love what he gets from Hobbs, who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder after being drafted so late, and one who could end up being a Pro Bowl player this season.
The defense for the Raiders should be much improved under Graham, and players like Hobbs will have to play at a very high level with so many excellent quarterbacks in the AFC West. If Hobbs can prove that his rookie season was not a fluke, then the Raiders are set at the slot cornerback position for years to come.
Projection: Starting Slot Cornerback