After not selecting a cornerback in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft, there is a good chance that the Raiders attack that position early in the 2024 draft. They have several players on one-year deals and are relying on their youth to help them out.
Assuming no one stands out this year, it’s very likely they could draft one high next year. Luckily for the Raiders, the 2024 class appears to be loaded with top-end talent at cornerback.
In a recent article by Matt Miller of ESPN, he named the top two players at each position going into the 2023 college football season. At the cornerback position, Kalen King (Penn State) appears to be the leader in the clubhouse. Here is what Miller had to say about the junior cornerback:
King, a 5-foot-11, 188-pound junior, grabbed three interceptions and broke up 15 passes last year. Only teammate and eventual second-round pick Joey Porter Jr. forced a higher percentage of incompletions in coverage than his 37.5% of all targets. He’s shifty and fast, and he breaks on the ball like a wide receiver running routes.
Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama) and King are the top two cornerbacks going into the season and project as top-20 selections in next year’s draft. But both players are worthy of going that high due to their low QBR when targeted.
If the Raiders decide to draft a cornerback high in Round 1, look for King (and McKinstry) to be a potential option.
