Oakland Raiders: Latest 3-round 2019 NFL mock draft adds weapons

With a pass defense that gave up 241 yards through the air per game and ranked 19th overall – yet dead last in receiving touchdowns allowed with 36 – it’s more than clear that the Raiders are going to have to focus on improving their secondary this offseason.

The team has one cornerback they can count on in 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley, who, after a rough rookie campaign marred by injury, started to look the part of an elite, lockdown talent on the corner.

But having rotated through guys like Rashaan Melvin, Leon Hall, and Daryl Worley, among others, last season – and with most of them on one-year deals – Oakland’s cornerbacks room is looking about as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboards.

Last year’s fourth-round pick Nick Nelson showed some promise last year and could turn into a good option in the slot. But the team could – and possibly should – try to re-sign Daryl Worley who didn’t play all that poorly last season.

But that still leaves a pretty bare cupboard.

Which makes grabbing Deandre Baker a no-brainer. Depending on who you ask, he’s regarded as one of the top two or three cornerbacks coming out in this year’s class. He was certainly the top cornerback on Georgia’s defense the last couple of seasons.

While Baker isn’t the biggest (5-11, 185 pounds) and he doesn’t have what’s considered elite speed, he has above average athleticism, elite-level instincts, fantastic body control, and a knack for putting himself in a good position to make a play on the ball.

He could be a very solid complementary piece to Conley and if Nelson continues to develop well and build on those flashes we saw last season, the Raiders could find themselves with a very solid, stingy secondary.