There are different directions the Las Vegas Raiders can take with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. While getting a right tackle is key, they also need to address their secondary woes. A national voice believes they will take a cornerback in the first round.
Peter King of NBC Sports believes the Raiders will take cornerback Caleb Farley in the first round. He says the Virginia Tech standout excels at man coverage and believes he will be fine once he recovers from the disk surgery he underwent. He already received medical clearance for the 2021 season, so his health shouldn’t be an issue.
Keep in mind Farley was one of the most talented cornerback prospects in the draft. He has elite speed and the prototypical frame to play the position in the NFL. Over his two-year career at Virginia Tech, he logged 56 total tackles, 19 passes defended, and six interceptions. The Raiders’ secondary would surely welcome that kind of production. Moreover, King argues Las Vegas will need to bolster their cornerback group if they want to slow down AFC West quarterbacks Patrick Mahones and Justin Herbert.
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Why Caleb Farley makes sense for the Raiders at 17
The Raiders had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL last season. Damon Arnette, the 20th overall selection in 2020, struggled in his rookie season, and even if he plays better the cornerback room would benefit from more talent. Other than Trayvon Mullen, the Raiders don’t currently have a dependable cornerback on the roster. For that reason, taking Farley, one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft, at 17 makes sense.
It will be interesting to see what direction the Raiders end up taking on draft night. Right tackle may be their biggest need, but the offensive tackle class is deep and they could find a starting-caliber prospect in the second or even the third round. Then, there’s the wide receiver conundrum. Although Las Vegas signed John Brown this offseason and they drafted Henry Ruggs III in 2020, they are still searching for a number-one wide receiver.
The Raiders will need to come out of the draft with a few difference makers if they want to finish with a winning record this season, something they have done just once in the last 18 years. If they decide to go cornerback at 17, Farley would be an outstanding choice.
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