Raiders: Mid-February complete 7-round mock draft
By Nico Di Fede
Round 2, Pick 12: Ashtyn Davis, S, California
The local product out of Cal-Berkeley hailing from Santa Cruz, Ashtyn Davis fits both a position of need and is a great value at this spot.
Karl Joseph is a free agent this offseason, so the Raiders may have a hole at the safety spot. Erik Harris is a good backup, but he is not an ideal starter and does not have the athleticism to play single high.
Even if the Raiders do re-sign Joseph, he is more of a box safety like Johnathan Abram, so I do think a true free safety would still be a need. Ashtyn Davis is a track-star who has the range to become a good center fielder at the next level.
In 2017, Davis won the Pac-12 championship in the 110-meter hurdle competition. In 2018. he was First-Team All-Pac-12 during indoor hurdle season and Second-Team All-Pac-12 during the outdoor season.
This athleticism shows up on tape, as Davis is a missile flying all over the field. His closing speed gives him range in zone and as a former cornerback, his man skills are also solid especially when lined up in the slot.
While the Raiders hope Abram can cover tight ends, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther uses his safeties interchangeably, with both having single high, box and slot duties at times. And Davis has more potential when it comes to covering tight ends with his man coverage skills.
Davis is at worst the third-best safety prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft and would add elite speed that the Raiders defense desperately needs.