Clemson pipeline continues to flow as Raiders trade up to select Simpson
The Clemson pipeline continued Saturday morning when the Raiders selected guard John Simpson in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
The Raiders coveted Simpson enough to move up and take him, dealing picks No. 121 and 172 (fifth round) to the Detroit Lions to get him at No. 109.
Then, at pick No. 139, the Raiders were pleasantly surprised to get Amik Robertson, who made his reputation as a ball-hawking cornerback from Louisiana Tech and plays bigger than his size.
The selections finalized a seven-member class for Las Vegas.
Simpson joins Tanner Muse, a safety drafted Friday night, and three players taken last season — defensive end Clelin Ferrell, cornerback Trayvon Mullen and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow — as products of Clemson.
“Mullen, ‘Cle’ (Ferrell), Tanner, Hunter, and all those guys. We’re all like brothers,” Simpson said via conference call. “It’s a bond that you can’t break.”
At 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, Simpson is the kind of power blocker coveted by the Raiders. He’s played both guard spots for Clemson and arrives at a position of need in terms of depth. The Raiders’ projected starters are left guard Richie Incognito
and right guard Gabe Jackson, with Denzelle Good the swing sub starter on both sides.
Incognito is 36, however, and Simpson has played predominantly on the left side.
“I went to bed last night with a plan to trade up,” Mayock said. “Wasn’t sure with who. We started calling teams last night, continued early this morning. We ended up getting to the third pick in this round with Detroit. We really wanted to get that Clemson guard. he was a guy we had on our board for yesterday, depending on how the board fell.”
Simpson said he is working diligently on his agility.
“I do a lot of drills. I do a lot of sand work now. I’m working in the sandpit using ladders and change of directions drills, things like that,” Simpson said. “I realize that has been one of my downfalls. I’m also working on trying to get my hands better. I’m trying to use my hands before I make contact instead of using my helmet. Just things like that I’m trying to do every day to get better.”
Mayock put to rest any speculation that Jackson and his $9.6 million salary would be traded or released.
“Gabe Jackson’s our starting right guard,” Mayock said.
“He’s a big ol’ teddy bear,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told Sports Illustrated of Simpson. “One of my favorite kids I’ve ever recruited. He just has such a sweet spirit. But man, is he a good player.”
Simpson even scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as a senior, the first Clemson offensive lineman to score a touchdown since 2011.
Robertson (5-8, 187) is considered to have good ball skills and instincts. His size has been an issue with taller receivers, but he’s been described as tough and competitive — qualities the Raiders also believe they have in first-round pick Damon Arnette of Ohio State.
“I fit in perfectly. I’m a big versatile player,” Robertson said via conference call. “Wherever they put me, I’m going to make an impact, easy. If that’s corner, nickel safety, special teams too. If they want me to slide in and match up with Tyreek Hill, that’s what I’ll do.”
Robertson was moved to tears when he received the call from coach Jon Gruden, a moment captured on the team’s website.
In three seasons and 38 starts in 38 games, Robertson had 14 interceptions for Louisiana Tech with 48 passes defensed.
Robertson is also aggressive in run support and had eight tackles for losses.
Watching other corners go off the board, Robertson felt a groin injury that required surgery in mid-january hurt his draft stock. He got a pep talk from Raiders safety Johnathan Abram, with whom Roberteson became friends as both have the same agent.
“I saw a lot of teams pass up on me. I was getting discouraged,” Robertson said. “Abram and I have great relationship. I figured they needed a guy that can force turnovers, help Abram on the back end. It was a surprise, but I’m relieved that they believed in me and I told them that they’re not making a mistake.”
After the Simpson selection, Mayock said Gruden immediately turned his attention to Robertson.
“Jon asked me about Amik Robertson and I said, ‘There’s no way you’re going to get him at 139.’ And boy, we were excited when he did. He’s a a competitive, tough kid. If he was 2 inches taller, he’d have gone yesterday.”
Day 3 was a good one for the Raiders last season, getting defensive end Maxx Crosby and tight end Foster Moreau in the fourth round and Renfrow in the fifth.