If we have learned anything from the new front office for the Raiders, it’s that they want their “own” players moving forward. We’ve already seen them decline the fifth-year options of their three first-round picks from 2019 and they just traded away former third-round pick Bryan Edwards.
But one former draft pick by Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden that is still on the roster is cornerback Trayvon Mullen. Entering the final year of his contract, he has a chance to earn a big payday if he performs well in 2022.
In a recent article by Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report, he predicted every team’s breakout player for the 2022 season. For the Raiders, that was none other than Mullen. Here is what he had to say about the fourth-year player from Clemson:
“The Raiders’ cornerback spot saw a good amount of turnover as veteran Casey Hayward was replaced with the combination of Anthony Averett and Rock Ya-Sin. The most notable addition, though, is 2019 second-round pick Trayvon Mullen. Mullen missed 12 games because of a toe injury that required surgery.
If Mullen is able to fully recover, the 24-year-old is poised to thrive in Patrick Graham’s physical scheme. His second season was filled with bright spots that pointed toward development into a reliable cover corner who is excellent against the run. Every production category continues to ascend.”
Mullen is a bit of an enigma as his play has been up and down. When he is healthy and playing confidently, he has the chance to be one of the better cornerbacks in the league. Unfortunately, that’s been far and few between the last two seasons.
With the Raiders moving on from Casey Hayward, this will be a big opportunity for Mullen. But if the front office doesn’t trust him to stay healthy, don’t be surprised if they shop around for some veteran help over the next few months.