2021 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys fix defense, Justin Fields slides to Broncos
By Randy Gurzi
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. Christian Darrisaw. West Virginia. 17. player. 28
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
It feels like Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock might be running out of time. It’s true that Gruden was given a 10-year deal to be the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and is only entering year three, but things aren’t trending the way he and general manager Mayock need them to.
They went from 4-12 in 2018 to 7-9 in 2019 which was an impressive swing. Then in 2020, they looked to be a team on the rise but a late-season slump left them 8-8 and outside of the playoffs race.
As a franchise, they still are looking for their first winning season since 2016 as well as just their second since 2002. While it’s encouraging that they have improved as much as they have, Las Vegas made a lot of questionable moves this offseason.
They let some of their better offensive linemen go and then paid Kolton Miller a whole lot of money — arguably more than he could have gotten had he hit the open market. They also let Nelson Agholor leave in free agency, banking on a leap in performance from Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards.
Perhaps it will all work out and drafting Christian Darrisaw helps tremendously here. He can start day one on the right side as the tackle opposite Miller. It won’t fix the interior of their line but he should help Derek Carr feel a little more comfortable in the pocket than the current roster would.