Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: Damarri Mathis, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Panther Damarri Mathis salvaged his draft stock by returning to Pat Narduzzi's defense for another season.

The 2022 NFL Draft is just around the corner and there are still a handful of players who the Las Vegas Raiders will consider drafting on Day Two.

Mathis has been the team’s top coverage cornerback for years, but after missing the 2020 season due to a shoulder injury, it was a no-brainer to return for another season.

“Mathis plays with good anticipation and ball skills but lacks the top-end speed and coverage tools needed to play pure press-man coverage. While he's played Cover 3 with some modest success in college, he lacks the traits and poise to do so in the pros. He offers short and intermediate zone-cover talent as a cornerback or dime safety on the next level. His ability to help support the run from the slot could factor in his favor,” NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein said.

Lowest completion rates allowed at outside CB since 2019:

🔸 Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU - 35%
🔸 Jason Pinnock, Pitt - 37%
🔸 Damarri Mathis, Pitt - 37%
🔸 Derek Stingley Jr, LSU - 38% pic.twitter.com/mt5g3U8v7a
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 8, 2021

The Pitt product was used in many different coverage packages, whether it was press, zone, or man-to-man. Mathis was a vital defensive asset for the reigning ACC champions.

His efforts in the 2021 season earned him an honorable mention on the All-ACC team and a selection to the Reese's Senior Bowl, as he registered a total of 45 tackles (32 solos), six pass breakups, and two interceptions in his final season with the Panthers.

No ACC cornerback has been better at forcing incomplete passes than Pittsburgh's Damarri Mathis! pic.twitter.com/3iiHSkYnJ8
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 9, 2019

“Mathis is an explosive and physical cornerback. He may even be too physical after tallying 17 penalties across the past two seasons,” Pro Football Focus noted.

At 5-11 and 195 pounds, Mathis is a very physical corner who finishes tackles and brings down ball-carriers in the open field and run support.

Don’t love the backpedal and the footwork off the line, but I do love this recovery and play on the ball from Pitt’s Damarri Mathis. #Jets coach loved it too, came up to Mathis to show appreciation for the play. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/ndCez0Svjc
— David Wyatt-Hupton (@DWyattHupton) February 2, 2022

There are some flaws to his game, which would get him off the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.

Although recording an official 4.39 on the 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, Mathis’ tape shows him playing too fast at times, and seems to play at that one speed the entire game.

Speed is great to have, but there are times where he needs to slow down and not lose track of receivers.

There’s no getting away from his exceptional athleticism in the secondary and it’s exactly what the Raiders need. His visit to the Raiders shows how interested they are with him.

Projected to go off the board by the third round of the draft, the Raiders are in position to draft a versatile cornerback with great athleticism and production after a season-ending injury.

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