One of the most bemusing draft selections for the Las Vegas Raiders last year was Clemson’s Tanner Muse. Fast forward a year and he’s yet to have shown he was worthy of his selection.
The Raiders have been off the mark when it comes to their draft picks these past couple of years. Selecting prospects is often a crapshoot but the organization has really struck out recently. Taking both Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette when Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb were available last year could end up haunting Las Vegas. Muse, who was selected with the 100th overall pick in the third round, is in the same boat.
Muse’s selection was immediately chastised as a reach, basically, the Raiders over-drafted ’55’ in the third round. In retrospect, they could’ve selected promising defensive lineman Alex Highsmith, that’s just one example of an alternate scenario. Nevertheless, the team has to live with Muse and will do everything in their power to make sure he can live up to expectations. First, Muse has to show he can stay healthy for a full season. He literally took zero snaps in 2020, battling a toe injury all while trying to make the NFL transition. The latter being the key, is he a safety or a linebacker? Joe Marino of The Draft Network originally believed Muse needed to make the transition to weakside linebacker in the NFL.
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Looks like Muse will be ready to make an impact for the Raiders…
In all likelihood, if Muse is healthy, new Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will make use of him. The hybrid defender had a solid collegiate career, at least statistically. He accumulated seven interceptions, 14 passes defensed, and ten tackles for a loss. Recently, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal spoke about Muse’s health and potential impact for this upcoming season.
“He [Muse] is coming along nicely from the toe surgery he underwent last season. Muse is expected to be at full strength by training camp. He will compete for playing time at linebacker and on special teams.
A linebacker room made up of Muse, Nicholas Morrow, Cory Littleton, and Nick Kwiatkoski will be interesting to see with Bradley now in charge. Muse is by no means a bust at the moment, if healthy, he’ll have a shot at redemption by fighting for playing time at linebacker and will have to put in work on special teams.
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*Top Photo: John Locher/Associated Press