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Oakland Raiders: Handing out grades for the team’s 2018 draft picks

By Kevin Saito

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "OUR FUTURE IS NOW" for the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "OUR FUTURE IS NOW" for the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Oakland Raiders
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 02: Cornerback Nick Nelson #11 of the Wisconsin Badgers reaches for an incomplete pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Nick Nelson. University of Wisconsin. 110. player. 28. Pick Analysis. Cornerback

At five-foot-eleven, 200 pounds, Nelson isn’t the biggest corner out there. But, he’s got decent speed, and has a solid nose for the ball – he just doesn’t seem able to finish.

Over his three seasons in college (two at Hawaii, one at Wisconsin), Nelson showed tremendous instinct and an ability to make a play on the ball. He had 42 total passes defensed in his 35 career games – 21 last year alone, as a member of the Badgers.

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    • What makes that stat so confounding though, is that despite the ability to make plays on the ball, Nelson was never able to seal the deal, notching zero interceptions while in college. Zero. None.

    Given his lack of ideal length, Nelson probably fits in best as a slot corner. And the fact that he sustained his productivity in moving from Hawaii to Wisconsin – which is a step up as far as level of competition goes – bodes well for him.

    The big problem with Nelson (aside from apparently not being able to intercept a ball), is that he draws flags like garbage draws flies. Sometimes poor technique leads to Nelson panicking and getting grabby with receivers – earning him a flag and setting his team back (over the past two seasons, he personally accounted for 183 penalty yards to his team).

    Anybody getting flashbacks to D.J. Hayden reading that?

    Nelson has terrific natural instincts and above average athleticism. With the right coaching, he can work on refining his technique, and could give the Raiders a solid slot corner to team with Rashaan Melvin and Gareon Conley on the outside.

    But, it all comes down to Nelson being able to refine his technique.

    GRADE: C+

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