Raiders Draft Radar 2014: Safety

Completing the 2014 Raiders Draft Radar series is the safeties. For the Raiders, Charles Woodson returns along with his backup, Usama Young. Tyvon Branch also returns to action after missing all but one game last season. It makes the safety position not an extremely high priority but still a position of some need.

Most notably, this is likely Woodson's final year in the NFL. The Raiders could look to add his future replacement to the team as well as another option in case Woodson or Branch get injured. With that in mind, here are the players on the Raiders Draft Radar:

Marqueston Huff, Wyoming - Round 4

I might even give Huff a third round grade as it would not surprise me in the least if he were to go higher than this. It also wouldn't shock me much if that team were the Raiders. He is 5-11, 200 pounds but plays bigger and is a solid tackler. The versatility is there as he is a converted cornerback so he can fill in as a nickel back or cover tight ends when needed. He was a tackling machine with 127 (74 solo) as a senior. And hey, maybe once Charles Woodson retires, Huff will take the number 24 and all of you Raiders fans who kept your Michael Huff jerseys will be ahead of the game.

Dontae Johnson, NC State - Round 7

This 6-2, 200-pound cornerback projects to safety in the NFL. The lower rounds of the draft is where teams get creative and try to uncover a gem with a position switch. Tyvon Branch was a corner in college who the Raiders switched to safety and that's worked out pretty well. He ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the combine which would have been second among safeties. He fast, and big enough to match up with most receiver. His 38.5 vertical leap would have been best among safeties at the combine. His tackle numbers have been quite good the past two seasons for the Wolfpack. He had 132 tackles over the past two seasons with 10 passes defended and 3 interception (all last season). He can also contribute on special teams.

Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State - Round 7

Overshadowed a bit by top prospect cornerback Darqueze Dennard, Lewis is pretty good in his own rite. He was named first team All-Big Ten last season from the strong safety position. He is a solid 5-10, 205 pounds who packs a punch as a tackler. Along with 58 tackles, he had 10 passes defended and two interceptions. He has decent speed and his 36.5 vertical leap at the combine was good for third among safeties. Strong safety hasn't been a high priority for the Raiders but having to start Brandian Ross most of last season had to have been a bit of a wake-up call. Lewis would at least be a fine special teamer and at most a better replacement option should Branch go out with injury again.

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