Raiders Projected to Make Great Pick in Mel Kiper's First 2022 NFL Mock Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders' 2021 NFL season came to a halt with a Super Wild Card Weekend loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Several areas across the roster need to be improved upon, especially the defense after surrendering the seventh-most points this season.

Fortunately, the Raiders hold the No. 22 pick at the 2022 NFL Draft and are projected to use it to grab some defensive help, according to Mel Kiper's first ESPN mock draft.

Raiders Mock Draft

According to his 2022 NFL Mock Draft, Kiper is projecting the Raiders to select Clemson Tigers cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. with pick No. 22.

While Las Vegas doesn't have a glaring hole at the position, Booth is the type of shutdown corner that doesn't come around too often. He was one of the best to do it in the 2021 NCAA college football season, giving up only one reception that was over 20 yards.

The two-time All-ACC cornerback recorded 37 total tackles last season (3.0 for a loss), while also defending five passes and intercepting one.

There also isn't a guarantee that unrestricted free agents Casey Hayward and Desmond Trufant will return next season. If one of them finds a new team, Booth could easily step in and fill that void.

The 2022 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 28.

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Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.