Maryland Safety Brade Talks Pierce, Bennett
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The NFL Scouting Combine is underway as teams meet with prospects to determine which players will best fit their roster.
The Las Vegas Raiders are in a beneficial position, with a premium selection in the first round and several picks they can use to add depth to their team.
The Raiders will evaluate all positions, including the secondary. They selected two defensive backs last season, including Christopher Smith II of Georgia and Jakorian Bennett of Maryland.
Maryland's Beau Brade could reunite with his college teammate, Jakorian Bennett, on the Las Vegas Raiders.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
One of Bennett’s former Terrapin teammates, Beau Brade, hopes to be selected in this year’s draft. He spoke to the media about possibly joining the Raiders, Coach Antonio Pierce and the idea of reuniting with Bennett.
“It would be great to go to Vegas,” Bennett said. “I’m happy anywhere I go, really. It would be great to be back with JB, as of course, we have chemistry. Playing with him out there, he’s very knowledgeable of the game, great game, everybody knows his speed, he’s a great talent, and he makes my job easier, definitely. So, it would be great to play with him.”
Pierce won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants as a player and Brade said it would be an honor to be selected by a coach who knows what a championship-level defensive player looks like.
“That would be great,” Brade said. “My No. 1 goal is to win a Super Bowl, to win as many as possible, so, someone who’s been there, has the blueprint of that, that would be great.
"Being an ex-player, you can see how he gets along with the players, especially other coaches in the league, too, who have been players in the past. You can see how he has that relationship with them and how he has everyone else buy in with him. You can just tell that organization loves football.”
Brade has a unique skill set for a safety. He is well-built at 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds. He finished his Terrapins career with 177 total tackles, nine and a half tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, 11 passes defended and three interceptions.
The Raiders could create a Terrapin defensive backfield if they select Brade and pair him with Bennett, adding more athleticism to the back end.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr, and never miss another breaking news story again. Sign up RIGHT HERE for our 100% FREE newsletter that comes thrice a week and delivers all our best stories.
Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
