Raiders finish off NFL Draft with three more players that address roster needs

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Saturday, May 1, 2021 | 10:57 a.m.

Updated Saturday, May 1, 2021 | 5:06 p.m.

The Raiders finished off their 2021 NFL Draft class by adding two more defensive backs and another offensive lineman Saturday.

Missouri safety Tyree Gillespie and Illinois cornerback Nate Hobbs are headed to Las Vegas after being taken in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. Secondary was considered one of the Raiders’ two biggest needs, so it’s no surprise Gillespie and Hobbs joined second-round pick TCU safety Trevon Moehrig as new faces in the position group.

Throughout the draft’s three days, Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden used five of the team’s seven picks on defense.

“That tells me exactly all I need to know that we’re going to be a defensive-minded team,” Hobbs said. “We’re going to win on defense first with a mentality to punch you in the mouth.”

Offensive line was the other area that needed to be addressed and the Raiders selected Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrissey with their lone seventh-round pick to go with first-round Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood. Morrissey went 230^th overall to complete a whirlwind path to the NFL.

He was a former walk-on for the Panthers before ascending to a two-time team captain and All-ACC player. After being passed up going into college, he thought history was repeating heading to the pros when he hadn’t heard his name called before the seventh round on Saturday.

“I thought I was going to go a little bit earlier, but I could not be happier that I am a Raider right now,” Morrissey said. “So I was talking to my agent about free agency and we had teams calling and discussing options. So that’s what really got me down a bit but then I heard Mayock’s voice on my phone and was like, ‘My dream is coming true.’”

The Raiders traded up to take a safety for the second time in four selections with Gillespie to get started on Saturday morning.

Las Vegas received the No. 143 overall pick, the penultimate choice of the fourth round, from the Minnesota Vikings to select Gillespie. Las Vegas had pulled a similar move with the San Francisco 49ers exactly 100 picks earlier on Friday night, moving up five slots to select Moehrig.

Moehrig is scouted as a traditional “centerfielder” at free safety, while Gillespie is more in the vein of current strong safety Johnathan Abram. Gillespie, who’s originally from Ocala, Fla. is a hard-hitter most known for lending a hand in run support.

“I take huge pride in that part of my game,” Gillespie said. “I feel like that’s what’s missing half the time so that’s what I take pride in the most.”

The 6-foot, 207-pound Gillespie is expected to contribute immediately on special teams. Hobbs, a 6-foot, 190-pound player from Louisville, Ky., could do the same if not earn a bigger role after going 167^th overall in the fifth round.

Las Vegas feels set with its starting cornerbacks, Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette, but have struggled with depth behind them. Hobbs could conceivably compete for a starting nickelback role with Amik Robertson, a fourth-round pick last season, and veteran Nevin Lawson.

Scouts say Hobbs fits the NFL defensive-back prototype with plenty of athleticism and length to excel but he struggled with consistency at Illinois.

“I won’t forget the guys who were taken before me, the guys who I feel like didn’t do as much as me but were still picked up,” Hobbs said. “I’m just so thankful for the Raiders for taking a chance, they won’t regret it. They’re getting the best underdog they’ve ever drafted.”

Coverage is where Gillespie has some room to improve and a reason why he projects primarily as a backup to Abram to start his career.

Morrissey will have to impress in training camp to earn a roster spot as the team already has two centers likely to contribute. The Raiders are confident in Andre James, who backed up since-traded Rodney Hudson the last two years and signed former Texan Nick Martin in free agency.

But, like perhaps all of the Raiders’ picks over the last three days, Morrissey sounded undeterred by the prospects of competition. He’s just thrilled for the opportunity to play in the NFL.

“They are going to get everything out of me,” Morrissey said. “I’m going to work my tail off and give that organization everything I have and help this team win some games and hopefully a Super Bowl. So, it means everything to get drafted to the Raiders.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.