There are easily two positions that stand out as the biggest needs for the Raiders this offseason. Those positions are wide receiver and cornerback.
At one time, it looked like the Raiders may have set themselves up to not need to reach at cornerback when they agreed to terms with free-agent cornerback Eli Apple. But the deal fell through before Apple signed on the dotted line, so they find themselves still looking at a hole at one cornerback spot.
As it happens, the Raiders have two mid-first-round picks, so they can use one on a wide receiver and one on a cornerback providing there are players at those positions they like. And you can bet they’ve been taking long, hard looks at cornerback and receiver prospects in preparation for the draft.
One of the more highly thought of corners in this draft seems to have gotten the feeling the Raiders will pull the trigger on him.
Jaylon Johnson, who is pegged as a first-round talent in this draft, appeared on the Stick to Sports podcast and was asked if he could predict who he thinks will draft him. He didn’t dodge the question or dance around it.
“A hunch? I would say the Raiders. Yeah, I’d say the Raiders with the hunch.”
Johnson has surgery on a torn labrum, which he played through last season at Utah. Even with the injury, he held quarterbacks to a 52.0 passer rating last season with two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. In 2018, he had four picks with two touchdown returns.
The 6-0, 193-pounder is a Fresno native, so coming to Las Vegas would keep him close to home.
The Raiders don’t have a pick in the second round, so if they are interested, it would likely be at pick No. 19.
