3 Mistakes the Raiders made during the NFL Draft

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TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 3: Defensive Back Divine Deablo #17 of the Virginia Tech Hokies in action during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 3, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. The #20 ranked Hokies defeated the #19 ranked Seminoles 24 to 3. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

2. Drafting three safeties with early selections

Anyone who understands Gus Bradley’s Cover 3 system will know the importance of the safety role. There isn’t a free or a strong safety, but rather just two players who can do a bit of both.

Moehirg fills that role after playing over 175 snaps in 2020 at both positions down in Fort Worth. The same could be said of Missouri’s Tyree Gillespie, who played more deep, but was a willing tackler when asked to play the run. The hybrid style should work for Bradley’s base 4-3 set.

What doesn’t is the selection of Divine Deablo from Virginia Tech, another hybrid defender but more so used in the box as a larger safety/small linebacker. This time last season, Las Vegas used a similar selection in Round 3 on Clemson’s Tanner Muse, who was lost when asked to play last season.

Trevon Moehrig should have gone 15 picks higher than he did. SAF1 in this class has size, route recognition, interchangeability, and toughness. Addition of Divine Deablo makes it clear the Raiders view him as a post safety. Good call. pic.twitter.com/fy3dTBwiHU
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) May 1, 2021

Deablo isn’t a but player, but where does his fit on the depth chart? Even though he is injured prone, is Las Vegas ready to give up on Johnathan Abram entering Year 3? That selection could have been used on an offensive guard or even help at the linebacker spot with LSU’s Jabril Cox or Ohio State’s Baron Browning.

Three players at one position in a draft is always going to be a bit of a problem.

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