With the 2023 NFL season reaching its final weeks, it’s the best time of the year. No, not the holiday season. It’s mock draft season. By now, most fans know where their team will likely be drafting. Right now, the Las Vegas Raiders would be selecting at No. 11. Luckily for the Silver and Black, this puts them in prime position to select Clemson’s Nate Wiggins.
If you’re a fan of a team that hasn’t had a good season, whether it be due to injuries, underperformance, or just plain bad, it’s time to look at mock drafts. With that said, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler recently released his mock draft 1.0 and has the Silver and Black going defense.
Nate Wiggins in the first round instantly improves Patrick Graham’s secondary…
Oh yeah, Marcus Peters still can’t tackle. https://t.co/w2TflGGmXI
— RaiderRamble.com™ (@TheRaiderRamble) November 26, 2023
This week, Las Vegas ended the Marcus Peters experiment in their secondary. As a result, interim head coach Antonio Pierce is giving some of the younger cornerbacks a chance to earn the starting job in 2024. However, there’s the reality that they all disappoint the Raiders despite the additional responsibility.
The Raiders will need to use free agency or the draft to improve the secondary if they are not satisfied with the players they currently have. For Brugler, he has the Silver and Black going the draft route. So, who does Brugler place in Las Vegas with the 11th overall selection? Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, yes, another Tiger, would don the colors for the Raiders.
“Even before the Raiders cut Marcus Peters, the cornerback position was a significant area of need,” Brugler wrote. “Although he needs to continue getting stronger, Wiggins has an outstanding combination of speed and length with the sudden feet to stay attached to receivers. The Raiders will also be an obvious candidate to trade up for one of the quarterbacks in this class.”
What are other options for the Raiders?
Other mock drafts have pondered the Silver and Black going cornerback to address the weakness in their offensive line. ESPN is one of the outlets that has released its predictions for the 2024 NFL Draft. However, they have the Raiders going with Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham.
In Brugler’s mock draft, he has the Crimson Tide player going to his AFC West rival, the Los Angeles Chargers. He notes that the Chargers must invest in protecting franchise quarterback Justin Herbert, which is why Los Angeles will select one of the top tackles in the 2024 draft class.
The Silver and Black’s defense can keep them in games this season. Still, the team lacks that No. 1 corner, and perhaps now is the time to invest in a high draft to see if Wiggins can be that type of player for them to provide another dynamic to Patrick Graham’s group.
*Top Photo: Gannett, USA TODAY NETWORK
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