With their final selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders went defense, picking Pittsburgh cornerback M.J. Devonshire in the seventh round at pick No. 229.
Devonshire was the second cornerback the Raiders added in the draft, with the first being Mississippi State product Decamerion Richardson — but it's Devonshire in particular who has the eyes of one analyst.
According to Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, Devonshire is the Raiders' best sleeper pick in their 2024 NFL Draft class. In fact, he believes the cornerback is a "decent steal."
Here's what Farrar had to say:
I first watched Devonshire’s tape before I landed in Indianapolis for the scouting combine, and he immediately impressed me as a very good man/match prospect all over the field. He might not be the most immediate closer and transition player in zone, but any team looking for a cornerback who can press and carry should have found Devonshire interesting.
Ultimately, the Raiders found him interesting enough to take him with the 229th pick in the seventh round, which constitutes a pretty decent steal. Last season for the Panthers, Devonshire allowed 25 catches on 55 targets for 435 yards, 142 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, four interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 60.3. The Raiders have struggled for years to put a competent cornerback group on the field, so perhaps between Devonshire and fourth-round pick Decamerion Richardson from Mississippi State, they can get a leg or two up on that process.
Las Vegas entered the draft with a clear need at cornerback, and while they addressed it with a pair of selections, I would've liked to see general manager Tom Telesco land a player who could make a more immediate impact than Richardson and Devonshire are likely to.
Nevertheless, it's clear there are reasons for optimism with both players. Farrar points that out above when it comes to Devonshire, and Richardson is supremely athletic, giving him a good chance to contribute sooner rather than later.
