The Las Vegas Raiders added offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. They have now turned their attention to the defense and drafted TCU safety Trevon Moehrig 43rd overall.
Heading into the draft, safety was one of the Raiders’ most pressing needs. Thus, it wasn’t surprising to see them target Moehrig. In fact, they traded up five spots to make sure they landed the Texas native. A four-star prospect out of high school, he appeared in 33 games for the Horned Frogs. Moreover, he logged 124 total tackles, 21 passes defended, seven interceptions, and two forced fumbles over his three-year collegiate career.
Moehrig was the highest-ranked safety in the draft, so Las Vegas might’ve gotten a steal. The TCU standout is athletic enough to drop back in coverage but can also line up closer to the line of scrimmage and punish opposing ball carriers. Even though he lacks top-end speed, his instincts and awareness make up for it.
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How does Trevon Moehrig fit with the Raiders?
The Raiders brought back Karl Joseph this offseason. However, Moehrig could compete for a starting spot right out of the gate. Jeff Heath is still with the team but may be better suited for a complementary role. Moreover, Johnathan Abram was inconsistent in 2020, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Joseph and Moehrig be the starters on Day 1.
The team’s brass got defensive coordinator Gus Bradley a dominant pass rusher in Yannick Ngakoue this offseason. Now, he will have a safety in Moehrig that can roam the back end of the field. The Raiders had one of the worst defenses in the league last season. It’s good to see they are taking the necessary steps to turn things around after years of futility.
The Leatherwood pick didn’t get positive reviews, so it was interesting to see what direction the Raiders would take in the second round. The Moehrig pick shows the team’s draft strategy may not be that bad after all. Whether it was by sheer luck or by design, the Silver and Black got themselves a potential starting safety in the second round of 2021’s draft.
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Top Photo: AJ Mast/Associated Press