Silver Minings: Mel Kiper has Las Vegas taking yet another defensive back at No. 17

Well, here’s an interesting mock draft pairing for the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 17: Trevon Moehrig.

In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the TCU safety going to the Raiders in the first round. It’s the first time I’ve seen the Raiders linked to Moehrig at No. 17. I haven’t seen him mocked that high much, either.

Moehrig is a deep safety who can cover and hit. If the Raiders take him, it would be interesting for a couple of reasons.

One, it would be bypassing a bigger need at pass rusher. Also, it would continue a trend of the Raiders taking defensive backs high in the draft. He would be the third safety taken in the first round by the Raiders since 2016, joining Karl Joseph (2016, no longer with the team) and Johnathan Abram (2019).

He’d also be the the fifth defensive back taken in the first round by the Raiders since 2016, joining Joseph, cornerback Gareon Conley (2017, no longer with the team), Abram and cornerback Damon Arnette (2020).

None of those picks have worked out yet, perhaps, if Kiper is right, Moehrig could change that trend.

What are your thoughts on the Kiper choice?

In other Raiders’ links:

• Where does Nelson Agholor rank? The Athletic looks at the free-agent wide receivers.
• Another DT available: The Denver Broncos released defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and when healthy, he can rush the passer, so the Raiders may need to take a look.
• Strong stance: The NFL released a statement against the growing violence against Asian Americans. Good for the league. We join the NFL, offering the support of this community to all Asian Americans.