Regrading The Las Vegas Raiders 2021 NFL Draft Class (5 Years Later)
The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here, and it’s a time for teams to reflect. Especially as now is a good time to fully grade the 2021 NFL Draft. 5 years is a good time length to lock it in, so let’s start by looking at the Las Vegas Raiders. Remember, if a selection is graded as a HACKENBERG, that means the pick is an F grade. Let’s get into the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders Draft Class.
Round 1, Pick 17 – OT Alex Leatherwood (Alabama) Grade HACKEBERG
This pick never made sense at all. Especially since many had Leatherwood as a 2nd/3rd-round prospect in this class. Leatherwood was a liability on this team, and even a move to guard didn’t help either. He was so terrible during his rookie year that he had a 0.0 pass-blocking grade in a game and was one of the worst blockers in the league.
He barely lasted a year with the Raiders, who released him. He had spent time with the Chicago Bears, but only played in 4 games with the team. Once leaving Chicago, he was on and off practice squads with both the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Chargers. He has since been out of the league since 2024. Dear god, what a waste of a 1st round pick. Easy HACKENBERG grade here.
Round 2, Pick 43 – S Tre’von Morehig (TCU) Grade A
It was stunning Morehig dropped to round 2 because there were many scouts and analysts who had him as a 1st round prospect. The back injury was a big reason why and those injuries are no joke. Luckily for the Raiders, the back injury was not as severe as originally thought.,
Morehig was a solid NFL player who got better every year he has played in the NFL. While the Raiders’ secondary has been very inconsistent, Morehig was one of the few trustworthy players on that secondary. He even got a nice 3-year $51 million contract with the Carolina Panthers and is a key piece to that defense today. This pick was a success.
Round 3, Pick 79 – LB Malcom Koonce (Buffalo) Grade C
This one is a tough one to regrade because Koonce has talent. The team took it slow with his development as he barely played his first two seasons in the league, mainly on special teams. Although he showed moments of brilliance in the snaps he did get.
Koonce really broke out for the Raiders in the 2023 season. He had a really good stat line of 43 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 8 sacks. It looked like he was a late bloomer, but then came the knee injury that took him out for the 2024 season. Koonce has signed back to back one year prove it deals with the team. He was decent last year, but it’s clear he’s a rotational depth piece. Overall, a decent pick here.
Round 3, Pick 80 – S/LB Divine Deablo (Virginia Tech) Grade B+
Gosh, not joking I had the Raiders drafting Divine Deablo in round 2 when scouting him. Deablo was drafted as a safety, but the Raiders wisely moved him to linebacker, and he played very well with the team. He even had a 100-tackle season with the team in 2023.
There are two key issues with his play: coverage ability and injuries. Especially with the ankle issues and forearm issues. He is still in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and has been a very serviceable player.
Day 3 Had One Notable Pick
The Raiders had 3 other selections where they took Tyree Gillespie (Round 4), Nate Hobbs (Round 5), and Jimmy Morrissey (Round 6). Morrissey and Gillespie never amounted to anything in Vegas and have been journeymen in the NFL. However, one pick from Day 3 really stands out and that is Nate Hobbs from Illinois.
The raiders used the 167th overall pick to select Nate Hobbs. He had a big impact and actually started a lot of NFL games with the Vegas Raiders, especially in his rookie season. There was promise with him.
Well, if you ignore that DUI arrest happened during the Dark Side of the Raiders 2021 Season. Remember the year that Henry Ruggs had his DUI crash. Not a few weeks later, Hobbs was found asleep at the wheel of his car while on an exit ramp. He’s lucky he wasn’t cut for his nonsense here.
He got a solid contract with the Green Bay Packers, but it only lasted one year with the team. As of today, Nate Hobbs is signed with the San Francisco 49ers, and it will be interesting to see how he is handled. At least the Raiders made a nice Day 3 pick here.
Overall Grade For Las Vegas Raiders 2021 Draft Class – Grade B-
The Raiders had 3 great selections here in Devine Deablo, Tre’von Morehig, and Nate Hobbs. Sucks they aren’t on the team, but all three are very serviceable players. Unfortunately, the Raiders wasted there 1st round pick on Alex Leatherwood, and the other picks have not panned out very well. The B grade is for the class, but the – is that the good players they drafted are not on the team.
