We are only three weeks into the season, but it appears the Raiders have a star in the making. Starting slot cornerback Nate Hobbs continues his excellent start to his rookie season.
After two great performances to begin the year, Hobbs was even better against the Dolphins in Week 3. In that game, he was targeted three times, allowing only four yards.
According to Pro Football Focus, he’s been one of the league’s top rookies this season. He is currently the No. 4 rated rookie this season and the top-graded defensive back. Here is what the site had to say about the fifth-round pick for the Raiders:
“One of the unsung heroes of the Raiders defense, Hobbs has locked down the slot this season. He’s allowed only 48 yards on 12 targets and has racked up five defensive stops. His emergence is made all the more impressive because he played outside cornerback at Illinois for all four years of his college career.”
The top three cornerbacks for the Raiders have all had fantastic starts to the season. It’s the biggest reason why the defense looks so improved this year compared to previous seasons.
If Hobbs can continue to play like this for the rest of the season, it’s fair to say he will easily be the biggest draft steal this season. In fact, he probably already is.
