Picking the best Round 1 draft target for the Las Vegas Raiders after the 2024 NFL Combine

The Las Vegas Raiders feel like they finally have the right staff in place to get the franchise to that next level. Now, they have to make some huge decisions in the offseason.

Obviously, it starts with free agency, as that is first on the NFL schedule, but the NFL Draft is just as important, if not more important. That's where the decisions of the future will be made. One good pick can change the trajectory of your franchise, as can one very bad pick, as we have seen with the Raiders far too often over the last few years.

Since it's first, what happens in free agency is key for what the Raiders do in the draft. For example, if they go and sign three or four cornerbacks, it's safe to say that won't be the No. 1 priority in the draft. So what happens first dictates everything else.

At the same time, the Raiders could have their eyes on a position in the draft that helps guide what they do in free agency to an extent. As we know, they want to go and get their franchise quarterback. Either way, if they decide to keep their pick, the Raiders have a great shot at landing a difference-maker in the first round at No. 13. Originally when we did this, we had the Raiders taking Byron Murphy, the defensive tackle from Texas. But, things have changed after the combine. Murphy have had had such a good weekend he plays himself into the top 10.

Raiders need to take Alabama CB Terrion Arnold in first round of the 2024 NFL Draft

Obviously, we know the Raiders want to go after a quarterback, so they could very well try and trade up. However, if the guy they want isn't available, which seems to be the top three QBs, and they decide to stay at 13, they should target the dominant defensive tackle from Texas in Byron Murphy, who has risen up the draft stocks over the last few months, and now the last few days. If he is there, that would be a great pick to pair with Maxx Crosby. But it's looking likely he could be gone by the time the Raiders go on the clock. So, they should target Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold instead.

The Raiders had a great defense last season when Antonio Pierce took over the reins as interim head coach. He allowed Patrick Graham to coach more freely than Josh McDaniels allowed him to. But Maxx Crosby, the Raiders' best player, still had a lot on his plate. At times, he was the only defender who could get by his blocker, whether it was in the run game or pass rush. Having an elite secondary behind him is not a bad idea, especially after we saw a glimpse of what Jack Jones can be in the Silver and Black.

Outside of Jones, the Raiders struggled at defensive back. They had great moments by Amik Robertson, but, they also had bad moments, and blown coverages. The Raiders need more consistent play in the back end, and Robertson is set to be a free agent. They drafted Jakorian Bennett last season, but he wasn't ready to be a rotational player just yet.

The Raiders need a guy who embodies that Raider Way and plays with an attitude. They need guys that resemble how Antonio Pierce is and how he played. They could get that in Terrion Arnold, especially now that we have seen him at the Combine and heard his interviews.

Terrion Arnold is a great fit for the Raiders' defense

Arnold is an elite athlete, as he finished with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, a 37-inch verticle, and a broad jump of 10 feet nine inches. He is am aggressive ball-hawk, and showed that with 12 pass breakups and five interceptions in 2023. Arnold is disruptive and aggressive at the line of scrimmage and stays on top of fade routes while having the ability to work back to the football. He is very twitchy with his change of direction but stays glued to the hip pocket on in-breaking routes.

Arnold accelerates out of his speed-turn and undercuts passing windows at a high level. If you're going to play in the Raiders defense, you need to know how to stop the run, as they struggle there. Lukcily, Arnold is an elite run defender. He is also a violent block shedder, and an above average tackler. He rarely blitzed but flashed potential as a pass rusher. Arnold is the No. 16 overall prospect on A to Z Sports Big Board and the No. 1 cornerback.

We have harped on it enough already, but the Raiders have to get better on defense, and getting the best player at a position they so desperately need would help tremendously.

Final word

Overall, though, the Raiders have so many options to choose from if they stay at pick No. 13. They really can't go wrong with picking a cornerback, but if they did, I'd go Arnold.