By all accounts, the Oakland Raiders had a fantastic draft. They were able to address most of their significant needs with quality players who should have the opportunity to start right away.
However, the one need the team didn’t address in the draft was linebacker. They passed on LSU’s Devin White at No. 4, and by the time they were on the clock again, Devin Bush was already off the board.
But Oakland may have found its linebacker of the future without having to spend a single draft pick. After the draft, the team signed undrafted free agent Tre’von Coney out of Notre Dame. According to Pro Football Focus, Coney was the top-ranked free agent signing as he scored phenomenal grades in both the run and pass game in 2018. Here is what Pro Football Focus had to say about Coney and his fit with the Raiders:
In 2018, Coney’s 90.5 coverage grade and 91.7 run-defense grade both ranked inside the top 10 among all linebackers in college football. He also ranked second in the linebacker class in overall grade at 91.8. Oakland did add Vontaze Burfict and Brandon Marshall this offseason, but Coney should do more than compete for a roster spot – he could easily steal playing time away from the team’s current off-ball linebacker rotation early in his NFL career.
Pro Football Focus discussed what could have caused him to fall in the draft, such as a poor 40-yard dash (4.72) and an overall lack of athleticism. However, his production speaks for its.
If Coney can prove that he is athletic enough to play in the NFL, don’t be surprised if he quickly rises up the depth chart in 2019. It wouldn’t be a total shock to see him start a few games this season either.
