A second-round pick with first-round talent? The Las Vegas Raiders rarely hit with one of those, but they sure got it right with Trevon Moehrig. A player many believed could be a Day 1 pick slipped to round two and was promptly picked up by Las Vegas. He isn’t flashy but is what the Silver and Black need, and last season he made the Raiders’ pick look like a steal.
How did Trevon Moehrig’s rookie year with the Raiders go?
According to Pro Football Reference, Moehrig ended the season with 55 total tackles and one interception. Yes, the numbers don’t blow you away, but it was his play and consistency that showed up big for Vegas. Over the last handful of seasons, safety has been a position that has been lacking. There have been groans and moans as the Raiders consistently missed out on good ones.
In Moehrig, they finally got one. He seemed to always be in position, as he was rarely out of it, and he seemed to always be where the ball was at. Moehrig did record just one interception but could have easily had a few more if not for drops, as evidenced by the six pass deflections. He recorded one interception and he also had two passes defensed in Week 6 against the Denver Broncos. As you watched the game, you noticed his position and how he would not make a mistake as he kept himself ready throughout.
Expect Moehrig to shine again in 2022
With Year 2 now incoming and an improved defense, the numbers figure to jump up. With two stalwart defensive ends, balls may come out faster and under duress, which should open up the chances for interceptions. There will probably be more screens set up to try and slow down the pass rush, which should also increase the overall tackles. With the improvement from the team and just the growth, he should get a lot.
We’ll go with the prediction of 75 total tackles, one sack, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles and recoveries. This is the biggest season as far as optimism goes for the Raiders in a long time, and with so much riding on it, the starters will rise to make some real noise.
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*Top Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun