Top 2021 NFL Draft needs for the Las Vegas Raiders

4. Sam Linebacker

If the Las Vegas Raiders are able to bring Nicholas Morrow back in free agency, the linebacker position will not stand out as a massive position of need for the team in the 2021 NFL Draft. That being said, they do not have an ideal player to fill the Sam linebacker role in Bradley’s 4-3 under defense.

This Sam linebacker will spend a lot of time on the line of scrimmage and will have responsibilities as both an edge defender and off-ball linebacker. Nick Kwiatkoski could perhaps handle the role but he is far from an ideal fit. Look for the Las Vegas Raiders to address their need for a Sam linebacker in Bradley’s defense at some point this offseason.

5. Wide Receiver

Nelson Agholor stepped up and played well for the Raiders this season, hauling in 48 receptions for 896 yards and eight touchdowns. After only signing a one-year free-agent deal with the team last offseason, Agholor will once again enter free agency this offseason and will likely demand a much higher price tag after his success in 2020.

If the Raiders are unable to bring Agholor back, they will need to replace his production somehow. Henry Ruggs taking a step forward will help as will the return from Tyrell Williams, but pretty much no matter what happens in free agency, the Las Vegas Raiders will have room to add another wide receiver to the mix.

6. Cornerback

Personally, I do not see cornerback as a major position of need for the Las Vegas Raiders. They have an interesting group of young players at the position, and while they have not performed particularly well, giving guys like Damon Arnette, Trayvon Mullen and Isaiah Johnson a chance to prove themselves in a defense that protects cornerbacks would not be a terrible idea.

That being said, it is not like the Raiders are absolutely loaded with impact talent at the cornerback position. If the right opportunity presents itself, Las Vegas could certainly find room to add a cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft.

7. Quarterback

Derek Carr played well this season and his job should not be in jeopardy. I only wanted to mention this need because of what we saw out of Marcus Mariota this season. When Mariota stepped in for Carr and brought a running element to the quarterback position, the Raiders’ offense opened up and moved the ball well.

If the Raiders have an opportunity to snag a mobile quarterback at some point in the 2021 NFL Draft, they should take the player and let him grow behind Carr. Adding that rushing element to the quarterback position could help this team in a huge way in the long term.