The star of the Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason was rookie cornerback Nate Hobbs.
Hobbs — a fifth-round pick from Illinois — flashed in the preseason, making big plays consistently in coverage and in blitz packages. Hobbs is fully expected to open the season as the Raiders’ starting nickel cornerback and they expect him to be an impact player.
While talking to the media on Wednesday, Las Vegas Raiders’ general manager Mike Mayock was asked about the process of drafting Hobbs. In response, he went into a detailed story about how the focus on Hobbs was a group effort between scouts and coaching staff after rookie had a great pro day.