Las Vegas Raiders 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup, 5.0
Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our Las Vegas Raiders Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Las Vegas Raiders from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The Notre Dame product is one of the most exciting defenders in this draft class. He's athletic and sticky in coverage, while possessing blazing pursuit speed and scary pass-rush potential.
The Raiders need an infusion of athleticism and playmaking ability on the second level. Owusu-Koramoah is a sideline-to-sideline defender with speed, instincts and big-hit ability.
For the Raiders, the Clelin Ferrell pick has been a disaster in terms of pressuring the quarterback. Ferrell has just 6.5 sacks in two seasons. The Raiders could find a better pass rusher in the middle of the first round this year. You can argue that Phillips is the most gifted pass rusher in the draft this year. Yes, even more talented than his Miami teammate Rousseau. Phillips is quick off the snap and can get around the edge in a hurry. He and Maxx Crosby would give the Raiders the pass rush duo they need.
Owusu-Koramoah is a fun, high-energy playmaker who should be a really nice fit in the scheme that new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will bring to Las Vegas. The Notre Dame star has the skill set to help elevate the Raiders' overall team speed, give them a big-hitting cover guy at the second level, and make an instant impact in the unit's blitz packages.
He replaced Rousseau in 2020, responding with eight sacks and 15½ tackles for loss. The Raiders only managed 21 sacks in 2020 and desperately need to bolster their pass rush given their inability to close out games.
This is a strange draft in that there are no dominant pass-rushers. Phillips could be the top edge prospect, and I have only a mid-first-round grade on him. But he had a dominant season for the Hurricanes after transferring from UCLA, where he had ended his career because of concussion issues. The former five-star prospect missed the 2019 season and then ended up at Miami, where he had 5.5 sacks in his final three games. Depending on his medical checks, Phillips could rise even higher. The Raiders, meanwhile, had one of the NFL's worst pass rushes again (21 sacks, fourth worst) and got only two sacks from 2019 No. 4 pick Clelin Ferrell.
Owusu-Koramoah is a dynamic athlete at the second level of the defense. He can cover in the slot if needed and he's an excellent blitzer. The Raiders need to address the pass rush, too, and that could be an option here with this pick.
The Raiders defense has been among the league's worst for two straight seasons, and an inability to rush the passer is a big reason why. Ojulari burst onto the scene this year with his speed and athleticism, finishing with 8½ sacks and four forced fumbles in 10 games.
