Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders have more needs than just grabbing a franchise quarterback. That is the biggest one, but the Raiders also need the offensive tackle and cornerback positions.
They should be able to address every position of need in this draft. However, where they do it, or what round, rather, is a completely different story. The first round will likely be occupied by the Raiders taking a quarterback. However, there is one position that if they did take, it would break a trend.
The Raiders have a stud cornerback in Jack Jones and a great nickel in Nate Hobbs. They need depth there and another guy who can be a lockdown cornerback on the opposing team's No. 2 WR. They can get that in this draft and maybe get pretty deep into it, too. However, the guy running the show hasn't taken one early in a long time.
New Raiders general manager Tom Telesco hasn't drafted a cornerback in the first round since 2014, and he could do it in the 2024 draft, making it ten years.
Now, this draft has a ton of guys who are really good at the position. In fact, the Raiders can take at least two guys in the first round who would be game-changers: Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold. The Raiders had a top-five defense by season end last year. Adding Christian Wilkins and a top cornerback to the unit could get scary.
But it's all about how the board falls, and if history tells us anything, the Raiders could very well pass on a CB in the first round.
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