After an exciting first day of the Combine, the Las Vegas Raiders now shift their focus to the defensive backs and tight ends for the second day.
With many memorable performances, the defensive linemen and linebackers will be one tough act to follow. However, this group has a fair share of athletic marvels looking to light up the athletic drills. As such, the Raiders and the other 31 NFL teams will be ready to take notes and see who rises up their draft boards.
So who warrants the attention of the Raiders this time around?
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Revel is a bit of an odd case for this combine, as he is still rehabbing from a torn ACL that ended his final collegiate season.
Unfortunately, he will not compete in the athletic or positional drills at the combine or East Carolina’s Pro Day. Prior to that, however, Revel looked like a lock to be the first player drafted out of the Group of Five conferences. He was sensational for East Carolina over the past three seasons, notching 70 tackles, 15 passes defended and three interceptions.
With Revel at risk of sliding down boards due to his injury, it is essential for him to ace the interview process. The Raiders have already reached out to him for a formal interview, indicating serious interest if he falls to them in the second round.
“It’s exciting, man,” Revel said about his interview with the Raiders, per Sports Illustrated’s Carter Landis. “I don’t look at it as an interview. It’s like we’re having a conversation with them, trying to get to know you and trying to get to know them. So, just taking everything one by one.”
Revel stands out as a potential starting cornerback in the NFL, and getting him in Round 2 has potential to be a steal.
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Riq Woolen was a fantastic add for the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 as a raw but athletically-gifted cornerback, so anyone who draws that comparison is going to attract head coach Pete Carroll’s attention.
This year, that comparison goes to Porter, a fellow wide receiver convert whose elite athleticism and ball skills translated nicely to the other side of the ball. While that comes with a lack of starting experience, Porter’s one year starting for the Cyclones was sensational, allowing a paltry 4.7 passer rating while getting three picks on just 17 targets. There is still work to be done, which is a mild concern due to Porter being 24 in his rookie season, but he has a solid floor as a special teams gunner with the potential to carve out a major role on defense.
Porter will be one of the star attractions of the second day, particularly in the athletic drills. He is currently expected to run the 40-yard dash in the 4.3s range, making him a serious contender to clock in at the fastest time. While that mark is not everything, seeing his 10-yard split, as well as his explosiveness in the broad and vertical jumps, will indicate to the Raiders and other teams how much they should value his traits.
Nohl Williams, CB, Cal
Every draft analyst has ‘their guys’ going into the process, and Williams has quickly emerged as one of mine.
After three seasons at UNLV, Williams joined Cal in 2023 and broke through against the higher level of competition. He had his breakout season in 2024 with the Golden Bears, leading the nation with seven interceptions en route to winning first-team All-American honors. That level of improvement throughout multiple years is going to warrant serious attention.
After impressing in the Shrine Bowl in January, Williams is knocking on the door of Day 2 consideration. If he wants to earn his spot in that conversation, however, he will have to showcase improved speed and athleticism. While a reported 4.52 40-yard dash time is not bad at all, seeing those numbers fall to the 4.4 range while impressing in other spots should be enough to seal the deal.
Whatever the case may be, the Raiders should seriously consider bringing the former Rebel back to Las Vegas.
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
When a player says they expect to run a 4.3 time in the 40-yard dash, that confident statement is going to make them one to watch.
In the case of Emmanwori, however, he is a genuine threat to hit that mark. Even more impressive is that it would shatter the fastest time of last year’s safety crop, set by Texas Tech’s Dadrion Taylor-Demerson at 4.41 seconds. Going off of South Carolina’s listed measurements, Emmanwori is five inches taller and 41 pounds heavier than Tayl0r-Demerson; that is the level of freakish athleticism the former Gamecock is putting on display.
Emmanwori is currently the second-highest ranked safety in the class, just below a projected first-round selection in Georgia’s Malaki Starks. A strong combine, however, could shorten the gap between the two and vault Emmanwori into the first round. If the Raiders cannot re-sign pending free agent safety Tre’Von Moehrig, that makes Emmanwori that much more enticing.
Pete Carroll having his newest model of Kam Chancellor is too good of a prospect to resist.
Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech
The Raiders did not need a tight end when they drafted Brock Bowers in the first round last year, but it was a good reminder to never balk when talent is available.
Hawes possesses a different type of skill set from Bowers and even Michael Mayer. While he will still produce with a few catches here and there, the bread and butter of Hawes’ game is his tremendous blocking ability, serving as a sixth offensive lineman when he takes the field. With a hefty six-foot-four, 252-pound frame, Hawes has the requisite size and strength to continue his in-line blocking role at the NFL level.
Bringing Hawes in gives new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly a bit more freedom to work with. Using Hawes as a blocker will open lanes in the running game, which the Raiders are in desperate need of anyway. It will also give whoever is in at quarterback for the Raiders some more breathing room, as well as give Bowers and Mayer more opportunity to flex their receiving chops.
