Day 2 of the NFL Draft will have a lot to say for the Las Vegas Raiders. Rounds 2 and 3 will be when general manager Jon Spytek and head coach Clint Kubiak try their hand at roster construction.
Even with Eric Stokes back, there remains a need in the secondary. Here are five safeties and cornerbacks that Las Vegas could target on Day 2 in Pittsburgh.
CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Hood stands 6 feet tall and was a Thorpe Award semifinalist last season. The McDonough, Georgia native is a transfer who began his college career at Auburn before moving to Colorado, where he played under Deion Sanders in 2024. He then transferred to Tennessee and became a full-time starter in the SEC. He became the first SEC player since 2019 to return both an interception and a fumble for a touchdown in the same season. In 12 games for the Volunteers, he recorded 50 tackles, nine pass deflections, a pick-six, and 4.5 tackles for loss, including one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Hood plays with confidence and tenacity in man coverage that has helped him shut down some of the best receivers in college football. Football runs in the family – he is the nephew of former NFL cornerback Roderick Hood, who played in two Super Bowls during his career. At the NFL Combine, Hood ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash and ranked 10th among cornerbacks. He also posted a 40-inch vertical, one of six corners to clear that mark. Hood projects as a second-round target for the Raiders.
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CB Chris Johnson, San Diego St.
Johnson is also a second-round target for Spytek and Kubiak. He spent his entire college career at San Diego State, never pursued the big stage through the portal, and the production happened anyway. In 2025, Johnson was named Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, earned AP Second Team All-American honors and reached the semifinal round for the Jim Thorpe Award. He was one of only four players not from a Power Four or independent school to earn All-American recognition. The numbers support this. The quarterback who tested them completed only 18 of 43 attempts for 185 yards, zero touchdowns and four interceptions, good for a 16.1 passer rating.
In Pro Football Focus grades, Johnson ranked second in the nation among FBS cornerbacks in overall defense and coverage. At the combine, he ran a 4.40-second 40, which was third best among cornerbacks. He also had a 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot-6 broad jump, earning a relative athletic score of 9.67, placing him in the 93rd percentile among cornerbacks tested over the past four decades. The main knock on Johnson is his arm length is 30⅝ inches, which may impact his ability to jam at the line against taller NFL receivers. Still, tape, production and testing all point to a Day 2 selection that could start sooner.
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CB Keyonte Scott, Miami
Scott was a disruptive force on Miami's national runner-up team, finishing with 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He earned All-ACC Second Team honors and was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist. Scott skipped on-field testing at the combine, then made up for it at Miami's pro day. He ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, a time that would have ranked second among cornerbacks at the NFL Combine. He entered the Pro Day as a fourth-round pick and left with second-round discussion. His primary role in Miami was nickel corner, but his run-fitting ability and downhill speed also allow him to play safety. If he falls into the third round, the Raiders will still be interested.
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S.A.J. Hallsey, LSU
Holsey earned All-SEC First Team honors after an outstanding senior season at LSU. He finished with 88 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups, and has totaled 10 interceptions and 347 tackles in his college career after stops at New Mexico and Houston before landing with the Tigers. His nickname on the program was "Mr. Give Me That". This was given to Haulsey by coaches for his blocking habits, which tells you what type of player he is. Hallsey is a true strong safety who brings a downhill presence against both the run and pass with the ball skills to avoid being a liability in coverage. He projects as a Day 2 pick and fits naturally into Rob Leonard's 3-4 scheme as a box safety who can attack at multiple levels.
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H2 - S Kamari Ramsey, USC
Kamari Ramsey also stands at 6-foot and is competing against the top receivers in the Big 10 Conference. In nine games, Ramsey totaled 27 tackles. He earned honorable mention honors after last season. The 21-year-old, who will turn 22 at the end of August, can play cornerback or safety, providing versatility. If he falls to the third round, the Raiders will take a shot at Ramsey.
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