DECEMBER 14: The Cowboys have claimed Mullen off waivers, per Garafolo (Twitter link). Dallas has been dealing with multiple injuries at the position, including the Achilles tear recently suffered by Anthony Brown. That has let the team in search of depth options late in the campaign.
The most recent example of that was the practice squad deal signed by veteran Mackensie Alexander last week. Mullen will likewise get an opportunity play at least a rotational role during Dallas’ closing games of the regular season and, presumably, the playoffs, aiming to rebuild some of his value along the way.
DECEMBER 13: A full-time starter during much of his Raiders run, Trayvon Mullen could not secure a first-string spot with the Cardinals. The team will move on from the fourth-year cornerback, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).
Arizona sent a conditional draft choice to Las Vegas for Mullen on cutdown day in August. Had Mullen been active for 10 games, the pick would have become a 2023 sixth-rounder. Because the former second-rounder only suited up for eight, the pick will be a seventh.
Still, this represents a disappointing development for both the Cardinals and Mullen. The Clemson product had started 31 games during his three Raiders seasons. Although he played a season-high 42 defensive snaps Monday night, the Cards are still moving on. Mullen only surpassed 30 defensive snaps in one game — the loss to the Patriots.
In limited work, Mullen allowed a career-high 12.1 yards per target and a staggering 156.7 quarterback rating as the closest defender in coverage this season. A Cardinals team that spent much of the offseason in need at corner traded for Mullen just as it was finalizing its initial 53-man roster, but the Raiders’ new regime was planning to cut him. That led to the low-end compensation for a player who was a full-time starter during Jon Gruden‘s time with the Raiders.
The 40th overall pick in 2019, Mullen landed on IR twice last season. Foot trouble led to both stints, and Mullen underwent foot surgery during the spring. He began the Raiders’ training camp on their active/PUP list and did not begin practicing until mid-August. Mullen did not make his Cardinals debut until Week 3 of this season. Arizona has used Marco Wilson and journeyman Antonio Hamilton ahead of Mullen alongside Byron Murphy this season.
Mullen joins Alex Leatherwood and Johnathan Abram as highly drafted players from the Raiders’ Gruden-Mike Mayock era to be waived this year. Both Leatherwood and Abram are still tied to their rookie deals, via waiver claims (two in Abram’s case). Mullen will hit free agency if he is not claimed by Wednesday afternoon.
Seems like they realized he’s not worth a sixth round pick since they’re going nowhere.
Typical Keim move. Wasting yet another pick. Drunk dialing does it to him everytime.
Cardinals said, “See ya, there ain’t no way we are letting that 7th Rounder turn into a 6th rounder!!”
Since 2016 I have questioned Oakland’s 1st Round picks. I really only liked the Jacobs, Ruggs, and Abram picks, but even with Ruggs I thought he was the wrong WR to pick with more polished guys still on the board.
I was pretty meh on the Leatherwood pick, but I never thought only a few years later Leatherwood, Ruggs, and Abram would all be considered busts and nothing more than afterthoughts moving forward..
Every team has misses and makes mistakes in the 1st Round, even quality franchises like the Patriots and Seahawks have had more than their fair share of misses, but it’s actually pretty crazy to think how often the Raiders have just completely struck out going back the past six years or so.
Out of their last NINE first round picks, one could make the argument the Raiders have only made one remotely good decision, and that was drafting Josh Jacobs a RB..
Thankfully, for the Raiders sake, they’ve been able to hit on some mid to late round picks to somewhat make up for their lack of first round success, but they could be an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT team if they would have made only three or four better decisions using those nine selections..
Unless you’re Jon Gruden, the Ruggs pick made absolutely no sense considering Jerry Jeudy is on the Top-5 leaders in yards/TD’s/and receptions along with DeVonta Smith at Alabama. The problem with the NFL Draft is the focus on spreadsheets and the Combine more than a prospect’s college game tape…
I recall pounding the table when they took Ruggs over Jeudy or my preference Ceedee, and then just lost all hope when they took Damon Arnette 7 picks later lol. A lot of teams will make surprising picks but at a certain point, some of those picks have to pan out. You thinking you’re smarter than everyone else only lasts for so long. What a disastrous draft history they’ve had the past few years. It’s tough being a fan of this team. I wish I could quit them but I can’t :,(
Well, his speed, ypc, and the fact he had some rawness to his game led quite a few to think Ruggs could eventually have the highest ceiling of the bunch.
He had alot of pre-draft buzz after his combine and workouts due to his tantalizing speed, and did have several scouts drooling over what he could ultimately become..
Personally, I would have taken Jeudy or especially Jefferson myself, just because of their mix of on the field production and talent, coupled with their extremely high floors yet still with all-pro potential..I just had some questions about Lamb, Reager, Aiyuk, Ruggs, and Higgins whether any of them could become true number ones like Jefferson or Jeudy…
As a 49ers fan, I’m glad I was somewhat wrong about Aiyuk..lol