Is the ascension of Nate Hobbs among us? That’s a valid question and something to keep an eye on after the Las Vegas Raiders traded former starter Trayvon Mullen Jr. to cap a cornerback makeover in the desert.
Hobbs, a prized gem of a late-round draft pick (the 167th overall pick in 2021), blossomed into one of the league’s best slot cornerbacks coming out of Illinois last season. Expectations early on were Hobbs maintaining the fierce stranglehold he has on slot duties that were forged with an impressive rookie season. Yet, with a new regime in Las Vegas — general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels, chief among them — the supposition on Hobbs has increased — exponentially.