On the last day of last year’s NFL Draft, the Raiders added a lot of value with some underrated prospects. They got Maxx Crosby, Foster Moreau, and Hunter Renfrow in the fourth and fifth rounds. Once the event was over, they signed starters at punter and fullback in Cole and Ingold as UDFAs.
Here are three potential diamonds in the rough that could be had on Day 3 of the draft and might have the same impact last year’s late round selections had:
Kenny Robinson, Free Safety, West Virginia/XFL
After an incident involving academic misconduct at West Virginia forced Robinson to leave the program, he decided to take his talents to the upstart XFL, where he quickly became a star for the St. Louis Battlehawks. Character is obviously a concern given Robinson’s background and the Raiders front office will likely have that in mind. On the other hand, he plays free safety like a centerfielder, and defending the deep ball is going to be crucial in the increasingly pass-happy AFC west. Also, he was unable to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, so it is difficult to tell how his athleticism measures up against other prospects in this class. Because of all this, he will likely hear his name called in the fourth or fifth round.
Related: New City, new look for Raiders?
Robert Windsor, Defensive Tackle, Penn State
I watched Windsor a lot in college, and what he lacks in mass (6’4″, 290 lbs), he makes up for with his motor. He handles fights very well and constantly works to get up field. As a three-year starter at Penn State, there is concern he has already peaked, but he is also battle tested after going against tough Big 10 offensive linemen. If he can put on 10-15 pounds of good weight, Windsor could be a major contributor in the defensive line rotation. He will definitely be available in the sixth or seventh round.
Bryce Perkins, Quarterback, Virginia
While the Raiders quarterback room is already quite crowded, it would be shocking if head coach Jon Gruden did not bring in at least one rookie signal-caller into camp. Perkins is a guy that could be a seventh round flier or a priority free agent. He consistently makes smart decisions with the football, and has the ability and awareness to tuck it and go when he gets into trouble. The biggest concern with Perkins is accuracy, the ball tends to sail on him when he throws outside the hashmarks. However, this appears to be more of a mechanical issue than anything. That is fixable and should not be a big deal since he would not be expected to play anytime soon.
Related: AFC West Power Rankings Pre-Draft
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