7th-round cornerback from Pittsburgh is intriguing
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Pittsburgh cornerback MJ Devonshire in the seventh round of the recent 2024 draft
Let’s take a closer look at Devonshire:
Size:
5-11, 186 pounds.
2023 Stats:
He had a team-high four interceptions (including one for a touchdown return) with 10 pass breakups. He was a second-team All-ACC selection. He played in all 12 of Pitt’s games with nine starts.
Career highlights:
He spent the 2019 and 2020) seasons at Kentucky. He transferred to Pitt in 2021. He was a reserve that season and then started for most off the 2022 campaign. He had three interceptions with two returned for touchdowns. He was honorable mention All-ACC as a cornerback and second-team All-ACC as a return specialist. He became the first player at Pitt since future Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis in 2006 to return both and interception and a punt for a touchdown in the same game.
I saw Pitt CB M.J. Devonshire as a mid-round player with excellent man/match skills and the ability to overcome some issues off the snap and in transition. The @Raiders got him in the seventh round. pic.twitter.com/Qbxr9zUxqQ
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) May 2, 2024
He’s from football country:
Devonshire’s hometown is Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. It’s the home of Revis and fellow Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett, Mike Dikta and Tay law among several other former and current NFL players.
How he will fit in with Raiders:
Some scouts were surprised Devonshire, taken with the 229th pick, lasted to the final round. He has nice ball skills and he is explosive as a returner. He should make the team as a special teams player with a chance to develop into a rotational cornerback.