The Las Vegas Raiders could realistically take two offensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft and Nebraska’s Brenden Jaimes could be a steal in the later rounds.
This offseason, the Raiders’ offensive line went thru a major shakeup which saw three starters jettisoned. Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, and Trent Brown will all be playing elsewhere in 2021. Coming back are Richie Incognito and Denzelle Good, with Kolton Miller still anchoring the left side. The issue facing the organization’s brain trust will be what to do at the right tackle spot. Brandon Parker will certainly vie for playing time but more depth will be needed. The team could pass up on taking a tackle early on and instead add one or possibly two tackles in the later rounds. Jaimes could certainly provide depth and upside if he’s available after the fourth round.
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What should the Raiders like about Jaimes?
The six-foot-six, 300-pound lineman has the size to be an NFL tackle though his short arms might raise red flags. Nevertheless, he played well in pass protection last year, showing an ability to pick up and protect against blitzes. His biggest strength coming into the NFL will be his hands. In 473 snaps played last year, Jaimes surrendered zero sacks and only four hurries while in pass protection. Pro Football Focus graded his pass protection at an impressive 79.2 for his senior year.
If Jaimes can put on some muscle to make up for his arm length’s shortcomings, there’d be some potential to be a starting-caliber tackle. The other issue he will have to work on is his run blocking, which left a lot to be desired at Nebraska. Luckily for Jaimes, he could put on the weight while sitting back in the depth cart and improving, which would not be bad as far as upside in the fifth or sixth round.
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*Top Photo: John S. Peterson/Hail Varsity
