Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: A QB1 at pick No. 7
Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: A QB1 at pick No. 7
807. . DB. Fighting Illini . Jartavius Martin. 173. player
The last time the Raiders used a late-round pick on a defensive back from Illinois they struck gold with cornerback Nate Hobbs and will hope to do the same here. Jartavius Martin is another player that fills a need as the Raiders will need to continue revamping their defensive back group.
Martin is a physical player and has a solid build for a safety at 6-0 and 195lbs but there are concerns around his top-end speed as he ran just a 4.55 second 40. He is an aggressive player in the run game and is a willing tackler as displayed by his 110 tackles over the last two seasons. He has shown some playmaking ability as well with seven interceptions over his college career but he has been with the Illini since 2018.
The other concerns with Martin are around his recognition ability in coverage and the aforementioned lack of elite speed. His willingness to be physical in the run game can help him contribute right away in multiple safety packages though he will need to work on the mental side of the game. One thing in his favor is his versatility as he played all over the field for Illinois and can do the same at the NFL level.