The Athletic’s mock draft has Las Vegas trading back for the Georgia product
We’re less than two weeks away from the NFL Combine and it’s NFL Draft season so the mock drafts are starting to heat up. While many outlets have the Las Vegas Raiders gearing up to take a quarterback or selecting the best player available with the sixth overall pick, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur took a different approach.
“We explored trading up for Shedeur Sanders, but we were unable to maneuver around the New York Giants, who pick third and had their sights set on the Colorado quarterback,” Reed and Tafur wrote. “That was a tough pill to swallow, but it got easier when the Dallas Cowboys called and offered picks Nos. 12 and 44 to move up to No. 6. We felt comfortable with several players still on the board, so we moved back and drafted Starks.
“Starks has elite physical traits. He’s 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, is as athletic as they come and has the speed to cover the entire field. He was a prolific player at Georgia whether he was lined up deep, as a box safety or as a slot defender. He was ranked 14th on The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler’s latest big board and clocked in at No. 7 on The Athletic’s latest consensus big board. Even if the Raiders re-sign free agent safety Tre’von Moehrig, he’ll need a running mate. Carroll’s first draft pick with the Seahawks in 2010 was All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, and he’d be looking to find another one here.”
The former Bulldog is an elite safety prospect so this would be excellent value to add a second-round pick and walk away from the first-round with him. Patrick Graham likes to use multiple safeties and if Marcus Epps isn’t brought back, Starks and Moehrig (assuming Moehrig re-signs) would be a great duo on the backend of the defense.
Reed and Tafur brought up Thomas above and it’s also worth noting that Carroll’s “Legion of Boom” defense featured a couple of All-Pro safeties with Kam Chancellor factoring into the mix as well. So, there are plenty of reasons why this could be the route the Raiders go in late April.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Mason Graham film breakdown: speaking of drafting the best player available, take a look at what the former Michigan defensive tackle could bring to Las Vegas as he’s one of the best prospects in the 2025 draft class.
- Who will the quarterback be?: “It’s extremely possible the Raiders make a fast play in free agency at the position,” Silver and Black Pride’s Bill Williamson wrote. “ESPN has reported they may be favorites for [Sam] Darnold. Still, the Minnesota Vikings could place the franchise tag on him. There are mixed reports whether new Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll will want to reunite with Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.”
- Matthew Stafford trade?: “Some view the Raiders as a prime team to trade up for a quarterback, but who really knows?” CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani wrote. “The hiring of Pete Carroll was a relatively surprising one, and could indicate the Raiders are more interested in stabilizing the franchise and laying the groundwork for future success compared to shooting for the stars by trading up the draft board.”
- Proposed Maxx Crosby trade: The Wright Way Network proposes the Raiders to trade the pass-rusher and a second-round pick to the Colts for Jonathan Taylor and a third-rounder.