Raiders Want to Include a “Hidden Gem” with a 40-yard dash speed of 4.38

Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps had excellent safety roles for the Las Vegas Raiders the previous season. There hasn’t been any word on an extension for either of their contracts, which are only good for one more season.

While it’s not an urgent need for safety in 2024, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks the Raiders should select Florida State’s “hidden gem” safety Akeem Dent in the first round.

In a post published on April 3, Ballentine stated, “The Raiders might be set at safety for the 2023 season, but it would make sense for them to target the position at some point in the draft.” “Tre’Von Moehrig is scheduled to complete the two-year contract he signed in 2023 while also entering the final year of his rookie contract.
It would therefore seem to reason that the Raiders would identify a player by 2024 who could be developed into a contributor.

Dent did not take part in the NFL Scouting Combine and has been operating beneath the radar. He might become available as an undrafted free agent, but the Raiders might use one of their late-round selections to select him if they think highly of him.

Akeem Dent Is an Impressive Athlete

At Florida State, Akeem Dent didn’t contribute much and had just one interception in five years. But his athleticism is quite outstanding. Alex Ballentine explains why NFL teams would find Dent enticing.

Ballentine writes, “The seasoned safety lit up his pro day in Tallahassee with a 4.38 40-yard dash and a 6.72 three-cone time that would have been first among the safeties at the combine.”

Dent can be used as a deep safety when needed, but he can also fill in a little bit in the slot. Although his size might make him unsuitable as a box safety, his athleticism and experience make him a valuable risk for the Raiders, who might require safeties in the near future.

It isn’t too risky to acquire a guy with Dent’s kind of skill set with a seventh-round selection. If the Raiders are convinced they can get more out of him than what Florida State got, he might be worth a look.

Should Las Vegas Raiders Extend Tre’von Moehrig?

The safety position for the Raiders is at its finest it has been in years. That might rapidly alter, though, if Marcus Epps and/or Tre’von Moehrig go in free agency the next year. The organization may be preserving salary cap room to extend players who are currently on the roster because they haven’t made any moves in free agency this year.

In the upcoming months, Moehrig will be a fascinating player to watch. After a strong debut year, he struggled in his sophomore year. In 2023, he improved significantly and recorded a career-high three interceptions in addition to 2.0 sacks. He resembled the player the Raiders selected with their second-round pick more.

It would be prudent for Las Vegas to extend Moehrig at this time if they believe he is an ascending player. His price will only increase if he has a successful 2024 season. Even though he was picked highly and is only 24 years old, there is a chance that 2023 was an anomaly for him. He ought to have a promising future.