Las Vegas Raiders: Late-round sleepers to target in 2021 NFL Draft

Elerson Smith, EDGE, Northern Iowa

There was a lot of hype surrounding Elerson Smith around the Senior Bowl and it would not be surprising to see him rise even higher prior to the 2021 NFL Draft. Even if Smith does end up being a Day 2 pick, he still stands out as a great target for the Raiders in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, the Raiders are going to be relying on getting pressure from their front four. Bradley does not like to blitz often, opting for more players in coverage and getting pressure on the quarterback with the front four. If this is going to work, Las Vegas must improve their defensive line group this offseason.

Elerson Smith is an extremely long and athletic edge rusher who shows impressive first-step explosion and great flexibility around the corner. Smith does not offer much against the run and lacks ideal functional strength, but he does a great job of flying around the edge and creating pressure on the quarterback. Smith should have immediate value as a situational rusher at the next level.

Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon

Deommodore Lenoir is not a great athlete at the cornerback position. His upside in man coverage is extremely limited at the next level because of this. However, he is an extremely smart and instinctual cornerback prospect who attacks the ball in the air extremely well.

Lenoir is a rock-solid cornerback who can quickly become dependable as a zone coverage defender at the next level. The Las Vegas Raiders would be wise to target Lenoir late in the 2021 NFL Draft, as he would immediately provide quality depth to their cornerback situation.