Las Vegas Raiders seven-round 2021 NFL mock draft
2021 NFL mock draft: Round 2, 48th Overall
Patrick Jones II. 2. player. 866. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. EDGE. Pittsburgh
Adding Owusu-Koramoah to the mix would help but the Las Vegas Raiders need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball. In the second round of this 2021 NFL mock draft, the Raiders take care of their need for an edge rusher by adding Patrick Jones II to the mix.
Maxx Crosby has been solid for the Raiders but Clelin Ferrell has not turned into the player the Raiders expected him to be when they took him fourth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. This team needs to find more impact talent at the edge rusher position and adding Jones to the mix would certainly help.
Jones is a quick and explosive edge defender who fires off of the ball quickly and shows impressive bend around the edge. He shows the ability to explode around the edge with raw speed but also displays a quick inside spin move that commonly leaves opposing offensive linemen in his dust. Simply put, Jones is an exciting speed rusher who has a lot of natural upside as a player who can attack the quarterback at the next level.
The Las Vegas Raiders need to find more players who can get after the quarterback and Jones certainly fits the bill. He stands out as a nice value pick in this range who would also fill a major position of need for the team.
2021 NFL mock draft: Round 3, 79th Overall
3. player. Scouting Report. Iowa. Daviyon Nixon. 878. Pick Analysis. IDL
Another pick, another impact defender added to the mix by the Raiders. Daviyon Nixon is not getting a ton of hype in the NFL Draft community but he was outstanding for the Iowa Hawkeyes this season and needs to be taken seriously as a potential impact player at the next level.
Nixon was an absolute force in the middle of the Hawkeyes’ defense, piling up 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks through eight games this season. Nixon was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American for his dominant play on the field.
Nixon is quick off of the ball and powerful at the point of attack. He shows strong hands, impressive natural block shed ability and has a knack for creating penetration into the backfield. Nixon is an impact pass rusher on the interior who also shows the ability to make big plays against the run. Pairing Nixon with Maurice Hurst would give the Las Vegas Raiders an exciting duo on the interior of the defensive line.