The Las Vegas Raiders added seven new players to their roster. The AFC West franchise remained active throughout the 2021 NFL Draft.
While focusing mostly on defense after the team's first round selection of former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, the Raiders had a bit of an underwhelming effort last month as many believed that Las Vegas reached on a few different players and didn't really add anyone that can help this struggling franchise turn the page on 2020-21.
While the aforementioned Leatherwood does project to be a starter right off the bat at right tackle for the Raiders, critics have been all over Las Vegas all offseason long when it comes to the decisions that have been made surrounding the team's offensive line. Leatherwood wasn't the only player that the Raiders reached on either as he was originally projected to come off the board in the second round, let alone at no. 17 overall.
Even so, there were two picks in particular that were flat-out mistakes by the Raiders, with Leatherwood still possessing the ability to prove himself atop the highest level. That pick will have to be revisited down the road, but for now, former Buffalo Bulls defensive end Malcolm Koonce and former Pitt Panthers center Jimmy Morrissey will continue to be the head-scratchers.
2. Round 3, Pick 79: Buffalo Bulls DE Malcolm Koonce
In addition to reaching on former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, the Las Vegas Raiders wasted little time reaching on yet another player, this time former Buffalo Bulls defensive end Malcolm Koonce.
With much to learn as a pass rusher atop the highest level, Koonce was projected to come off the board around the fifth round. However, the Raiders made him an NFL defender inside of the first 80 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Raiders need players that can make an instant impact, especially at key positions like pass rusher, but Koonce just doesn't move the needle all that much in that department. There is plenty of value in the third round of the NFL Draft and the Raiders elected to reach for the second time in the team's first three picks instead.
1. Round 7, Pick 230: Pitt Panthers C Jimmy Morrissey
This one is just more about the optics. Once a team hits the seventh round, it is more or less a complete gamble across the board. However, the Raiders previously traded away arguably the best center in the entire NFL, as the AFC West franchise shipped Rodney Hudson to the Arizona Cardinals earlier in the offseason.
With the team's offensive line still very much in question and uncertain across the board, the Raiders used their first round selection on a player that many projected to go in the second round while then adding only the franchise's second offensive player in the 2021 NFL Draft way back in the seventh round in former Pitt Panthers center Jimmy Morrissey. General manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden better know what they are doing as the Raiders continue to head in a strange direction.
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