Oakland Raiders: Early 3-round 2019 NFL mock draft brings needed help
By Kevin Saito
819. Pick Analysis. Linebacker. Notre Dame. 26. player. Scouting Report. Te'von Coney
And with their third pick of the first round, the Raiders continue to revamp the defense and shore up areas of need by taking Notre Dame’s Te’von Coney.
It’s no real secret that the Raiders have had a ton of problems with their linebacker group for quite a few years now. Those guys like Nicholas Morrow and even Marquel Lee have shown some promise and have done some good things, but it’s clear the Raiders need to do more to address the problem.
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And to start rebuilding their linebacker group, the Raiders take Coney, who has drawn favorable comparison’s to Chicago’s Roquan Smith. Measuring in at 6-1, 240 pounds, some consider him a bit undersized, but he’s got long arms and elite athleticism that help him compensate for the lack of size.
Over his 45-game career with the Irish, Coney has racked up 297 total tackles (154 solo), 6.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, four passes defensed, and 22.5 tackles for a loss.
What makes Coney special though, is not just his speed and burst but also his instincts. He’s always in the right place at the right time, instinctively making a play rather than just reacting to what’s happening in front of him. Which is exactly what the Raiders need in a linebacker – somebody who can just go out and make plays.
Coney’s rise with the Irish has been meteoric after going from key reserve to full time starter in the wake of an injury, and he’s a big part of the reason Notre Dame is undefeated and has one of the fiercest defenses in college football right now. He’s just the kind of player the Raiders desperately need in their front seven.