Raiders will lean on 2021 defensive draft picks in 2023
In the second round of the 2021 Draft, the Raiders selected TCU safety Tre'Von Moehrig, widely regarded as a potential first-round talent, and one of the best in the class at his position. Moehrig was outstanding as a rookie for Las Vegas, becoming a cornerstone for their secondary, but the 2022 season was not as kind, as the team moved to a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham.
Fellow 2021 draft pick Nate Hobbs, a cornerback who was also outstanding during his rookie season, also struggled in Year 2, a bad sign for a franchise that has lacked elite talent in the secondary for years now. Hobbs and Moehrig will be given every chance to regain their Year 1 form in their second season in Graham's defense, and the hope is, they can do just that.
Also in the 2021 NFL Draft class was Divine Deablo, a player who led the Raiders in tackles last season before being injured after eight games. Deablo racked up 74 combined tackles across those eight games, and with a thin group at the linebacker position going into 2023, he is going to be expected to step into more of a leadership role.