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
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