The Las Vegas Raiders’ need for a cornerback was not only the team’s biggest need heading into the draft, but according to Robert Mays of The Athletic, it was among the biggest needs among any roster needs across the NFL.
The team did an admirable job finding role players and stop-gap pieces, but they were expected to draft at the position. They passed on a cornerback in the first round, selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, then doubled down on offense with TCU’s wide receiver Jack Bech in the second round. But in the third round, they finally addressed cornerback with Darien Porter from Iowa State.
A key factor contributing to Porter’s draft position was his relatively recent transition to cornerback. Despite converting from receiver in 2022, he did not secure significant defensive playing time until the following year, when he became part of the rotation, averaging 35.4 snaps per game. However, his performance in those limited snaps proved sufficient to capture the attention of NFL scouts.
Pete Carroll’s attraction to the player is readily apparent, given that he embodies the specific profile Carroll has historically favored at the cornerback position. The player possesses the coveted combination of size, standing nearly 6-foot-3, with 33 1/8-inch arms, and exceptional speed, demonstrated by his 4.3-second 40-yard dash time.
Las Vegas Raiders CB Darien Porter Named Best Scheme Fit
In his most recent article for The Athletic, Ted Nguyen identified Porter as one of the best scheme fits from the 2025 NFL Draft class.
“At Iowa State, he mostly played off-coverage, but in the instances that he did play press, his length was disruptive. He has easy recovery speed, smooth feet, and fluid hips for a taller player,” Nguyen writes. “He also has the ball skills of a former receiver. Porter is a project because of his inexperience but one that Carroll will gladly take on.”
“Carroll compared Porter to Richard Sherman. Patrick Graham is the Raiders’ defensive coordinator, and I doubt they’ll go back to being a heavy cover 3 team like Carroll’s Seattle teams,” he continues. “Graham has been adaptable and has changed his scheme regularly to fit his personnel, but at his core, he wants to play aggressive man coverage. If Porter reaches his potential, he’ll be a nuisance to handle in press coverage.”