Why did the Raiders invest heavily in the secondary in the draft?

HENDERSON, Nev. --- The Las Vegas Raiders were presented an opportunity that didn't seem possible when the 2026 NFL draft began last week.

At the start of the fourth round, former Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy was still on the board due to league-wide concerns with his knee despite being considered one of the best overall prospects and a potential first-round pick. McCoy had missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL in January 2025.

Las Vegas saw a chance to grab a player whom the team believed was the best cornerback in his class and agreed to trade pick No. 102 and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the No. 101 pick -- the top selection of the fourth round -- to draft McCoy.