The Las Vegas Raiders’ secondary is an area that needs much improvement from last season. The team ranked 29th in passing yards allowed and 31st in interceptions, with just six total on the season. In addition, the team will likely lose some players they relied on, with cornerback Rock Ya-Sin and safety Duron Harmon, both free agents.
The franchise has yet to make any major moves to revamp its secondary, but one place they could look to is the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. Armed with the seventh overall pick, there are a handful of players at the position they could give a serious look to, and one of the best will be visiting them soon.
According to Ian Rapaport of NFL Network, the Raiders are set to host Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., son of Pittsburgh Steelers legend Joey Porter and one of the top players at his position in this draft:
Penn St CB Joey Porter Jr is on a visit with the #Ravens today, source said, and he’s also got the #Raiders on his list. Interestingly, Baltimore is where @MoveTheSticks has Porter mocked https://t.co/qPIgBDuD7L
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2023
Porter is precisely the type of player the Raiders would love to have in their secondary. He is a tall, physical corner who isn’t afraid to tackle but also has the speed to keep up with the best receivers. Last season his 11 pass breakups ranked in the top-25 nationally, and he allowed just 3.7 yards per pass attempt as the primary defender, which ranked fifth in the nation. He was a First Team All-Big Ten selection last year and a Second Team All-American.
The question is whether the Raiders would consider Porter with their seventh overall pick. Most places are mocking Porter more in the middle of the first round, a little behind whom most consider the top two prospects at cornerback, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez and Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon. But again, the Raiders doing their due diligence on all possibilities is the right thing.
Cornerback is a need for this team. The Raiders may choose who the draft prognosticators see as better in Gonzalez or Witherspoon. But if they work out everyone and interview them and feel that Porter is the right fit, they could take him or possibly trade down a few spots, add some more draft capital, and still get their guy in the end.
