Exploring some options for Las Vegas on Day 3
Two days down and one to go in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders will be on the clock in the fourth round with the 112th pick overall, so let’s take a look at some of the best players available for the Raiders heading into Day 3.
Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
Rattler was someone who could have been on Las Vegas’ radar yesterday. However, he’s slipped through the cracks and, as mentioned in the preview for pick 44, has plenty of arm talent to become an NFL starting quarterback.
Below is a brief snapshot of Rattler’s scouting report from Bleacher Report (full report):
Overall, Rattler’s arm is too enticing to pass up for too long. There are only a handful of players who throw with his flexibility and arm strength and accuracy. Rattler has the aggressive mindset to be a difference maker, too. He’ll just need time to find the balance with his aggression and continue adjusting to pro-style passing concepts.
Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
To toss another name into the quarterback discussion, Pratt is intriguing project as he can spin it with over 9,600 passing yards and 90 passing touchdowns during his college career, and he can make plays with his legs with nearly 1,150 yards and 28 scores on the ground.
Below is a brief snapshot of Pratt’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
Pratt’s toughness and aggressive mentality are the basis of his game. He is fearless in the pocket. At least a few times per game, Pratt will take a clean hit to ensure he delivers a ball where it needs to go. That toughness and team-first mentality will serve him well.
Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
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It’s a little surprising to see that Estime is still available, in my opinion. While he had an underwhelming 40 time at the NFL Combine, he still averaged 6.4 yards per carry at Notre Dame last season and 4.27 yards after first contact, per Pro Football Focus. He’d be a quality pickup who can be a good pass-protector and has soft hands.
Below is a brief snapshot of Estime’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
Size and strength are the foundation of Estimé’s game. At 221 pounds, he’s a sturdy runner who excels between the tackles. Estimé can run through defensive linemen at the line of scrimmage and bounce off defenders at the second level. He also does well to push the pile in short yardage and plunge forward for extra bits of yardage when being tackled.
Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
Jackson also falls into the ‘How is he still available?’ category. At nearly 6-foot-4 with just under 33-inch arms, he’s long and can run with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Also, the former Duck has good ball production with three interceptions and eight pass breakups last season, per PFF. Granted, he is only a one-year starter after transferring out of Alabama’s deep secondary.
Below is a brief snapshot of Jackson’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
While playing in coverage, Jackson shows a range of coverages and techniques. Press man coverage is the one he plays the most. He opts to mostly mirror receivers at the line of scrimmage and get hands-on as he rides them downfield.
…Jackson is an interesting prospect with a high ceiling. He still needs to shore up some things in the NFL, but he has the length and skill set that teams are looking for. Jackson has the potential to be an impact player in the NFL.
Cam Hart, CB, Florida State
Hart is another long corner (6-foot-3 with 33-inch arms) who has decent speed. He does lack some ball production with only two PBUs and no interceptions this past year, but he only surrendered 137 receiving yards, according to PFF.
Below is a brief snapshot of Hart’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
As a bigger cornerback, Hart has great movement skills. He plays with the instincts needed in zone and the short-area quickness desired to play underneath routes. He has the skills to be a contributor early on in his NFL career, with plenty of roles that he can fill into. Hart will go through an adjustment period for the first few years of his NFL career, though.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
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While Las Vegas doesn’t have a pressing need at linebacker, Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo are entering contract years and Trotter would be a great value pick in the fourth round. He’s lost some steam since summer — when the article below was written — but he has posted good coverage grades from PFF over the past two seasons, 89.7 and 82.0.
Below is a brief snapshot of Trotter’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has a lot of skills that will help him impact the passing game in the NFL. He’s pretty athletic and anticipates throws well by reading the quarterback’s eyes, making him a good middle hook defender in zone coverage. His athletic ability also helps him win as a pass-rusher, as he’s been highly productive in that regard for an off-ball linebacker.
Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Along the same lines, Gray’s combination of size (6-foot-2 and 234 pounds) and athleticism make him an intriguing option in the fourth round. He’s also been highly productive with a lot of quality tackles, logging 143 defensive stops (tackles that result in a ‘failure’ for the offense) over the last three years, per PFF.
Below is a brief snapshot of Gray’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
As a run defender, Gray takes on blocks with his hands and good leverage which, combined with his upper-body strength, can help him get extension and shed blocks. As a change of pace, he’s also shown a solid shoulder-dip move to slip blocks from offensive linemen climbing to the second level.
The Tar Heel made tremendous strides in zone coverage this past season. His eye discipline to locate threats coming into his area was much better, and he showed growth in reading the quarterback’s eyes. Combining that with impressive movement skills to tighten throwing windows and good ball production makes him an asset on passing downs.
Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
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The best endorsement I can give for Eichenberg is that he played with two broken hands at the end of the 2022 season. Antonio Pierce would love a linebacker like that. On the field, the Ohio State product might be a bit limited in coverage but is a good run defender who doesn’t miss many tackles with only eight whiffs at an 8.7 percent rate last season, per PFF.
Below is a brief snapshot of Eichenberg’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
Tommy Eichenberg is about as old-school of a linebacker as they come nowadays. He’s a good run defender with impressive instincts who clearly loves contact, as he’s physical at the point of attack and comes downhill with a flurry. He also has a relentless motor and is tough as nails, which he proved by playing with two broken hands at the end of the 2022 season.
Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
This would be a luxury pick as the Raiders don’t need edge rushers, but Booker’s tape is impressive as he showed a lot of pass rush moves that he can win with during this past season. He logged 38 pressures on 237 pass-rush snaps, per PFF, and has nearly 34-inch arms. The Kansas product is inexperienced though as he barely got any playing time until this year and only had one start in college.
Below is a brief snapshot of Booker’s scouting report from B/R (full report):
Austin Booker is an intriguing Day 2 prospect, as his combination of length and movement skills give him a high ceiling as a pass-rusher in the NFL. His change of direction and quickness really stand out on film. That gives him a deadly inside stick move and helps when turning speed to power.
Booker also uses his long limbs well to work the offensive lineman’s hands either before or after initial contact. That’s a big reason why he’s able to win with so many pass-rush moves.
Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon
Dorlus is a versatile player who played up and down the Ducks’ defensive line. He’s been a consistent pass rusher and run defender over the last three years, logging over 40 pressures and a run defense grade just below or just above 73.0, per PFF. There is a bit of a question about what his best spot in the NFL is, but the Oregon product would be a good pickup for Las Vegas at this stage in the draft.
Below is a brief snapshot of Dorlus’ scouting report from B/R (full report):
As a pass-rusher, Dorlus has active hands and a few moves he can win with, most notably an arm-over or swim move. He also has decent agility to be an effective looper in line games and has flashed the ability to get pressure with power using a push-pull move or a bull rush.
The Oregon product’s strength does show up against the run, as he’s able to get extension on blocks and can set the edge against offensive tackles. However, his instincts are a work in progress, as his block recognition and gap control can be an issue. He’s also not great at shedding or getting off blocks, either.