Raiders will rely heavily on high-pick defensive backs to ‘take it up a notch or two’
It’s a precarious position the Raiders find themselves in. Their defense was as porous as it gets, with no position safe from criticism. The secondary has received a great deal of criticism, but the problem is the team has spent a great deal of draft capital on defensive backs in the past couple of years, which means they have no choice but to give them a chance to develop.
In total, the Raiders have used three picks in the first 40 picks the past two years on DBs as well as a couple of fourth-round picks. They haven’t seen a whole lot of improvement in the play of the secondary despite these picks, and, as GM Mike Mayock explained, that has to change right now if the Raiders are to have any chance.
“We’ve got a first-round safety in John Abram; we got a second-round corner who we think is going to be a very good football player. We’ve got a fourth-round corner in Amik Robertson, another first-round corner in Damon Arnette and we mentioned Trayvon Mullen in the second who we think is going to be a heck of a player,” said Mayock over video conference call Wednesday.
“So, really, what we need more than anything is for all those players to take it up a notch or two. I’m talking about commitment to the game, work ethic, perseverance, being in the locker room working with your brothers. All those things are critical. We’ve expended some draft capital on what we think are some very talented players, and now all of them need to take a collective step forward.”
Add 2019 fourth-round pick Isaiah Johnson to that list and you have a lot of DBs, only one of which (Mullen) has shown he is a worthy starter.
With as many needs the Raiders have this offseason, using another high pick on a defensive back would be a tough pill to swallow. Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden would much rather see the high-picked DBs they already have start living up to their potential so they can put their attention elsewhere.
There is reason to believe some of them still have room to grow. Abram and Johnson had lost rookie seasons due to injury while Arnette and Robertson had to try and catch up to the NFL with no offseason. With all of them having a full season under their belts and what figures to be an actual full offseason practice schedule ahead, they will have their best chance to find those notches Mayock is looking for.
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