The Raiders are going to have some difficult decisions in their secondary this offseason. Casey Hayward Jr. is a free agent and deserves a huge increase after his play in 2021. Trayvon Mullen is entering the final year of his deal and so is Johnathan Abram.
That’s why it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see the Raiders continue to add to their secondary this offseason in both free agency and the draft. The draft might be the better avenue here for Las Vegas as the first round is loaded with playmakers at cornerback.
One option in the first round could be Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner from Cincinnati. He’s one of the biggest and most physical cornerbacks in the entire draft. And in a recent mock draft by Luke Easterling of The Draft Wire, that is where he had the Raiders going in the first round:
“The Raiders’ secondary doesn’t have a single player that strikes fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks, but Gardner has all the physical and mental tools to be that guy.”
Gardner will play on Friday as the Cincinnati Bearcats will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoffs. With a strong performance in that game, Gardner could solidify himself as a top-20 pick and a potential option for the Raiders in Round 1.
