After “reaching” on right tackle Alex Leatherwood in Round 1, the Raiders bounced back in a big way on the second day of the draft. Needing a free safety, the team made the bold move to trade ahead of the Cowboys, selecting TCU safety Trevon Moehrig.
Moehrig dealt with a tight back during his Pro Day and many believe that is why he fell a bit in the 2021 NFL draft. Because on the field, Moehrig’s play warrants a top-20 pick.
In a recent article by Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus, Moehrig was named one of the best steals of the draft. Here is a snippet of Treash’s thoughts on the pick by the Raiders:
“He’s now fully healthy and ready to rock in a Gus Bradley defense that will put him in a position to rack up the ball production. After all, Moehrig was a true ballhawk in the Horned Frogs defense over the last couple of years, making a total of 28 plays on the ball, five more than any other Power Five safety.”
Moehrig will be a Day 1 starter for the Raiders at free safety, with Johnathan Abram likely getting the nod at strong safety. The expectation is that Karl Joseph could back up both spots, but he may even push Abram for snaps, who really struggled during the 2020 season.
Don’t be surprised if Moehrig winds up being a high-impact player from Day 1 for the Raiders and for him to outperform first-round pick Alex Leatherwood. He’s that talented and a perfect fit in Bradley’s defense.
