The Raiders finally addressed the secondary, selecting Mississippi State cornerback Decamerion Richardson with the 112th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which came in the fourth round.
The 23-year-old was a two-year starter for the Bulldogs, had a breakout 2023 season and is one of the best athletes in this entire class.
The 6-foot-2, 188-pound corner ran a blazing 4.34 40-yard dash and has the highest athleticism score of any cornerback in this draft class (88), per Next Gen Stats. Not only is Richardson a freak athlete, but his 32-inch arms and lengthy frame aid his ability in man coverage.
The former Bulldog scored a 72.1 man coverage grade in 2023 and also excelled in zone coverage, scoring a 78.3 grade. The Raiders ran a ton of zone coverage last season under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, so Richardson's strengths in zone coverage fit well in Vegas' defense.
RD 4 | PK 112 - Raiders: Decamerion Richardson CB, Mississippi State
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 27, 2024
The @Raiders add the cornerback with the highest athleticism score (88) among his position group in this year's class to a pass defense that allowed the 2nd-highest expected completion percentage in 2023… pic.twitter.com/qudQp32Pl2
Overall, this is a good start for the Raiders on Day 3. Richardson is an athletic freak but is still rough around the edges and needs to improve his ball skills. The new Raider didn't have a single interception in college and struggled against elite receivers, such as Malik Nabers.
A decent pick, but I would've rather had Cam Hart here for the silver and black.
GRADE: B
