2021 NFL Draft: 49ers bulk up secondary in full Round 1 mock
By Peter Panacy
17. player. 28. . EDGE. Las Vegas Raiders. Kwity Paye
2021 NFL Draft: Raiders select EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
Whatever the Las Vegas Raiders do this offseason, the bulk of attention needs to focus on the defensive side of the ball.
Las Vegas’ defense was awfully bad last year, and that’s not going to cut it in an AFC West featuring Patrick Mahomes and an up-and-coming Justin Herbert. And while the Raiders should focus on adding good coverage options within the secondary, another solid route would be to bolster the pass-rush department. One of Las Vegas’ recent first-round pass-rushing additions, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, is proving to be a bust.
The 2021 NFL Draft isn’t particularly deep with talented edge rushers, and it’s a bit of a gamble with Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye, as he played in only four games last year and had just 11.5 sacks over his four-year collegiate tenure.
But the 6-foot-4 Paye has all the physical tools to be an elite-level pass-rusher, and this is a clear-cut Raiders need to bolster a facet of their defense that hasn’t been the same since EDGE Khalil Mack left for the Bears.