Raiders Prospects in 2023 NFL Draft--Top 5 Defensive Backs

HENDERSON, Nev.--Continuing with our breakdowns of the top five players at positions of need for the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2023 NFL Draft, today we’re going to look closely at the top five defensive backs in the draft class.

The Raiders are in need of some depth at the cornerback and safety spots. Fortunately for them, similar to the interior defensive line, there is a lot of depth at the cornerback position in the draft.

The Raiders sit comfortably in a spot where they can either take one of the top corners or safeties in the class or trade back and acquire some picks in order to select multiple players. Let’s look at the top five defensive back prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.

--Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon: A player whose draft stock has risen toward the end of the season, Christian Gonzalez is a big defensive back at 6-2, 201 pounds. Gonzalez does a good job covering receivers downfield and has good ball skills to jump in front of passes. His draft projection is mid-second round, but if he tests well at the combine, he could find himself in first-round conversations. The Raiders could play the board and get lucky if Gonzalez falls into their lap.

--Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State: Another cornerback with great size, Joey Porter Jr. was one of the most shut-down corners in the Big Ten this season. Not only does he have the size necessary for the position, but he is fluid and athletic. Porter gets underneath wide receivers’ skin with his physicality. He doesn’t have the high interception numbers like some other prospects, but he will limit whatever receiver lines up against him, which will appeal to the Raiders.

--Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina: One of the most technically sound defensive backs in the draft class, Cam Smith has the explosiveness and speed to hang with the top receivers in the league. Smith has excellent ball skills and does not allow many passes to be completed in his direction. Many general managers probably will have Smith as the top-ranked corner on their draft boards, and if the Raiders happen to do as well, they shouldn’t hesitate to take him if he’s available.

--Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M: Antonio Johnson played all over the field at Texas A&M but is likely to be a safety at the next level. Johnson is incredibly athletic and is one of the best tacklers in the draft class, recording 164 tackles in only 25 games. Not only is he an excellent tackler, but he also has good coverage and ball-tracking abilities as well. Johnson is projected to be drafted in the middle of the first round, so the Raiders might have to make a move back for him. But Johnson might be worth the move with the blend of physicality and ball-hawking skills.

--Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU: Another player who can play anywhere in the defensive backfield, Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, is a pure competitor. He has great anticipation skills and is an explosive athlete. Hodges-Tomlinson stands at only 5-9 and weighs 180 pounds, but he makes up for it with his athleticism. The 2022 Jim Thorpe Award winner recorded 120 career tackles and five interceptions with the Horned Frogs, propelling them to the National Championship Game. Hodges-Tomlinson is a defensive back the Raiders could land on day two.

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