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2017 NFL Draft Picks: Raiders grab former soccer star Shalom Luani with first 7th round pick acquired from Cardinals

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With the first of two 7th rounders the Raiders acquired from the Cardinals by trading out of the 6th round, the select Washington State safety Shalom Luani.

At the age of 17, he was a World Cup soccer player for the Tonga.

The 5-11, 202-pounder went on to play American Football in the Bay Area — first at Chabot College, then San Francisco City College — before transferring to Washington State.

In two seasons with the Cougars, he started 25 games at safety collecting 8 interceptions and 20 passes defended along with 158 tackles.

The Raiders are in much need of depth at the safety position after losing Nate Allen and Brynden Trawick in free agency. And obviously, being that Luani spent three years playing football in the Bay Area, it will be familiar to him.

Luani attended the scouting combine where he ran a 4.55 40-yard dash and a 6.87 3-cone. Both respectable times for a safety.

NFL Draft TV Schedule

Raiders 2017 Draft picks

Round 1: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

Round 2: Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut

Round 3: Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA

Round 4: David Sharpe, OT, Florida

Round 5: Marquel Lee, LB, Wake Forest

Round 7a: Shalom Luani, S, Washington State

Raiders remaining needs:

DT, RB, S

Picks remaining:

Round 7, pick 231

Round 7, pick 242

Round 7, pick 244