Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: S Josh Proctor, Ohio State
The Las Vegas Raiders will evaluate all positions regarding the 2024 NFL Draft, looking for young talent that can help them get to the playoffs in 2024.
They will look on defense, where they were markedly better in the second half of the season when Antonio Pierce took over as interim head coach.
While the Raiders were good on defense for the most part in 2023, they will likely look to add talent to that side of the ball, including in the secondary.
That could include Ohio State safety Josh Proctor. Proctor was named Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2023 after concluding his Buckeye career with 112 total tackles, six and a half tackles for loss, 14 passes defended, and three interceptions.
Proctor was at Ohio State for six years, appearing in 43 career games. He posted a career-high in tackles last season with 47. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in February, so he will get to showcase his talents among the top prospects in the draft.
![The Las Vegas Raiders may be intrigued by Ohio State safety Josh Proctor in the 2024 NFL Draft.](https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MjAzNzA0ODU5NTQxNjQ1MDg4/usatsi_22193461_168390101_lowres.jpg)
Proctor stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 195 pounds, and on tape, he presents a slender, shorter build. He played the most snaps of his career in 2023 with 625, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jim Knowles taking over as defensive coordinator resulted in Proctor playing all over the field in 2023. He primarily lined up as a free safety but also spent a good amount of time as a slot cornerback and in the box.
Proctor was impressive in coverage in 2023. He was targeted 32 times and allowed just 16 completions for 193 yards, and did not allow a touchdown until Ohio State’s bowl game against Missouri.
If the Raiders are interested in Proctor in the later rounds of the draft, they will like his speed, high IQ, and coverage skills. They will probably not like his small stature, which causes him trouble when he has to tackle ball carriers. He struggles to finish tackles, which allows ball carriers to go for extra yards.
The Raiders have a good secondary, as currently constructed, but they could look to add depth at the safety spot if they took Proctor around the sixth round.
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