The Las Vegas Raiders are in need of a future star cornerback, and fortunately for general manager John Spytek, there could be one available in the second round of the NFL draft if things line up.
There’s a long, storied tradition for the Silver and Black; we’re referring to the lineage of great corners that have roamed defensive backfields. Charles Woodson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Willie Brown, and Lester Hayes, just to name a few. While the Raiders continue rebuilding their defense in the aftermath of an aggressive free agency period, the corner position still needs a noticeable upgrade. They need a long-term answer that’ll give the team a reliable defender that’ll lock down one side of the field.
Now, as we’ve seen with Spytek this year, he has a clear vision for what the Raiders will become. With the draft inching closer, let’s examine one possible scenario, including a trade with the Washington Commanders to double-dip in the third round.
- Raiders receive: Rd. 3 No. 71 pick
- Commanders receive: Rd. 4 No. 102 pick, ’27 3rd round pick
Raiders Mock Draft: Selecting the next great corner?
Round 1, No. 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza is the kind of quarterback who makes the game look easy.
He has a big arm, throws the ball accurately and consistently puts it exactly where his receivers need it. Mendoza can fit passes into the tightest of spaces, stretch the field deep and rarely makes the kind of mistakes that cost teams games. Interceptions are not part of his game.
The young man is smart, reads defenses well and goes through his options quickly. When things get rough, he stands in the pocket and takes the hit to deliver the throw. That toughness matters at the next level.
Mendoza is not a running threat, but he does not need to be. Everything he does as a passer more than makes up for it. The Indiana product is expected to go No. 1 overall and unlike JaMarcus Russell, he’ll actually study the tape.
Round 2, No. 36: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Brandon Cisse is a boundary cornerback who brings the kind of physicality and athleticism that translates immediately to the NFL level.
At 6 feet and 190 pounds, Cisse has the length, athleticism and football instincts to make life miserable for receivers, jamming at the line, flipping his hips cleanly, exploding downhill on run and pass alike, attacking the catch point in tight windows and offering defensive coordinators the kind of coverage versatility that wins chess matches on Sundays.
Graded as a second-round talent, Cisse draws a legitimate Jaycee Horn comparison in the eyes of Bleacher Report. He’s a physical, long and explosive boundary corner with starting potential. Sounds like something that the Raiders could build on.
Round 3, No. 67: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Antonio Williams is not trying to be something he is not, and that self-awareness is precisely what makes him dangerous.
A natural slot receiver, Williams wins with craft over athleticism, using tempo shifts, subtle fakes and an advanced feel for leverage to consistently beat defenders off the line. He sits in zone windows with ease, giving quarterbacks a reliable underneath target, and shows zero hesitation crossing the middle through traffic.
His explosive vertical translates to contested catch ability that his frame does not advertise, and reliable hands through contact make him a consistent producer at the catch point. He turns short completions into real yardage with vision and competitiveness after the catch.
Add legitimate return game experience and gadget versatility, and Williams arrives as a plug-and-play contributor from Day 1. We know Klint Kubiak’s history of maximizing his wide receivers; Williams will add to that resume.
Round 3, No. 71: Keylan Rutledge, RG, Georgia Tech
After a serious car accident, Keylan Rutledge started all 26 games across two seasons, a testament to a competitive temperament that coaches at the Senior Bowl had to dial back, not manufacture.
Rutledge is the kind of offensive lineman who plays angry, and that is a good thing. He hits defenders hard, holds his ground against bull rushes and keeps blocking until the whistle blows and then some. He can pull out of his stance, find targets downfield and deliver a blow, and he is capable of playing multiple spots on the interior line. Pass protection and balance are areas he needs to clean up, but the tools and the toughness are already there.
Nevertheless, Rutledge’s combination of verified athleticism, positional flexibility and relentless toughness projects him as a quality backup with genuine starting upside. With the right coaching under Kubiak and Co., Rutledge would end up being an underrated pickup.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images