GM Mike Mayock and Coach Gruden kicked off the 2021 NFL Draft by fortifying the offensive line, but the second and third round was all about defense.
The Las Vegas Raiders scooped up a handful of top-tier talent, adding safety Trevon Moehrig (the top safety in the class), defensive end Malcolm Koonce, and defensive back Divine Deablo. Mayock and Gruden would've been pleased to get one of these prospects, but the fact they got all three was a home run.
Following Day Two of the draft, Mayock hopped on a conference call and fielded questions from reporters.
Prior to the draft, analysts felt that Moehrig to the Raiders at No. 17 was a great fit, but the team opted to address the offensive line. Miraculously, the TCU Horned Frog fell into the second round, and Mayock felt he had no choice but to trade up and snag him. The Raiders reached out to a couple of teams, searching for a suitable trade partner, and finally came to a deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
"In all honesty, I was thinking about trying to come up and get him at the end of the first round yesterday," Mayock shared. "I was stunned that he was still there. ...He's our No. 1 rated safety. We had him with a big grade on our board. So, we got a guy with a first-round grade at 43 in the second round. So, we're pretty excited."
Moehrig won't be the only player holding down the secondary, as he'll be joined by Deablo, who possesses an excellent knack for identifying routes before they fully develop. The Raiders will feature a lot of youth on defense, but their speed and athleticism will be on full display, and Mayock is stoked.
"And [Divine] Deablo, another high-quality guy. A guy that can play a couple of different positions, 17 special teams tackles at Virginia Tech. Ball production, the two guys on the backend I think had 14 interceptions between them."
Last, but certainly not least, Mayock and Gruden added yet another weapon to defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's defense, Malcolm Koonce. The former University of Buffalo defensive end was a force to be reckoned with during his four college seasons, racking up 109 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks. Reviewing his tape, Mayock became enamored with Koonce's ability to get after the quarterback and thinks he's going to be the perfect complement to Yannick Ngakoue.
"This guy at Buffalo has an innate skill and ability to rush the quarterback, and he's 6-2, he's 249 pounds," Mayock said. "He's got long arms but wait until you see him rush the quarterback. He's got a real chance to do some things that are kind of cool and will help complement Ngakoue. So, now we got two kinds of guys that can bend the edge with some speed off the edge, and that's what we didn't have the last two years is that bendy guy that can threaten off the edge with speed."
Through two days, Mayock and the Raiders have constructed a quality draft class, and they've got one more day to put on the finishing touches.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland, Ohio.
NFL Draft signage around the Cleveland area.
Kings of Leon perform a soundcheck ahead of the NFL Draft.
Kings of Leon perform a sound check ahead of the NFL Draft.
Kings of Leon perform a soundcheck ahead of the NFL Draft.
Kings of Leon perform a soundcheck ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network host Rich Eisen, Stanford head coach David Shaw, analyst Charles Davis and analyst Daniel Jeremiah on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network analyst Charles Davis on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network host Rich Eisen on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
Stanford head coach David Shaw on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala on set ahead of the NFL Draft.
A view of the stage area ahead of the NFL Draft.
A view of the stage area ahead of the NFL Draft.
Signage around the stage area ahead of the NFL Draft.
A view of the draft area ahead of the NFL Draft.
A view of Las Vegas Raiders gear in the fan area during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the Draft Caps on a wall during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the NFL Draft logo on an album cover during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the NFL Green Room during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the team jerseys during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the Raiders album cover during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is interviewed by SiriusXM Radio host Pat Kirwan before the start of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Melissa Stark on the red carpet during the 2021 NFL Draft.
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance appears on the Red Carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before the first round of the 2021 NFL football draft.
NFL Network's host Rich Eisen, Stanford head coach David Shaw, analyst Charles Davis and analyst Daniel Jeremiah during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Stanford head coach David Shaw during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's analyst Charles Davis during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Rich Eisen during the 2021 NFL Draft .
Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith in the green room during the 2021 NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft prospects pose for a group photo during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith in the green room during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view from the stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Kimberly Chexnayder during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Networks' host Colleen Wolfe (left) and host Kimberly Chexnayder during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell greets players back stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II walks on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau walks on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts walks on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater walks on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Cleveland's All City School Choir sings during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Musician Ann Wilson sings the national anthem during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Musician Ann Wilson sings the national anthem during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Kings of Leon performs during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Kings of Leon performs during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Kings of Leon performs during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Kings of Leon performs during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talks to the crowd at the start of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar on stage at the start of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas gets the crowd excited at the start of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the Las Vegas Raiders draft room during the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the stage as Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood is chosen by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 17th pick during the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the Las Vegas Raiders draft room as they select Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood with the 17th pick during the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood celebrators with family after being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 17th pick during the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood outs on a Las Vegas Raiders cap after being selected with the 17th pick during the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden calls Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood after Leatherwood is selected by the Raiders with the 17th pick during the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the draft experience outside of FirstEnergy Stadium during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the draft experience outside of FirstEnergy Stadium during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the draft experience outside of FirstEnergy Stadium during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view outside of the draft experience during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Network's host Melissa Stark back stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Networks' host Colleen Wolfe and analyst Michael Irvin on stage during the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday, April 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
NFL Network's host Colleen Wolfe on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Network's analyst Michael Irvin on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Draft house band on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Hall of Fame member Anthony Muñoz sits in the green room during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
Former NFL player Michael Griffin sits in the green room during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Hall of Fame member John Randle on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Hall of Fame member Will Shields on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Hall of Famer Orlando Pace on the stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Hall of Famer Drew Pearson on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
NFL Hall of Famer Drew Pearson stands next to The Isley Brothers on the stage during the 2021 NFL Draft .
Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. on stage during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft..
A ballon with a Draft logo during the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Peter Schrager on set during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Chris Rose on set during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) announces the Raiders third round picks during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden speaks with the Raiders' third round pick, defensive end Malcolm Koonce, on the phone on day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Eric Burton of Black Pumas performs during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Eric Burton of Black Pumas performs during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the stage as the Black Pumas performs during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Eric Burton of Black Pumas performs during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Scott Hanson on stage during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders Fan of the Year during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the draft stage during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft on Saturday.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands at the podium during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell poses for a photo with the Las Vegas Raiders Fan of the Year during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of NFL team pennants during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. performs during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. performs during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Scott Hanson during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A Las Vegas Raiders necklace during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the draft experience during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's host Kimberly Chexnayder on stage during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
A view of the draft experience during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Network's analyst Ian Rapoport during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders Fan of the Year announces a Raiders pick during day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
