GAREON CONLEY
Position: Cornerback
College: Ohio State
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 195 pounds
Selection: First round, No. 24 overall
ALAMEDA – Ohio State cornerback was widely considered a top-15 talent entering this year's NFL Draft. His stock took a free-fall this week, after being accused of rape.
Conley called the accusation "completely false," in a statement issued Wednesday by his agent.
Conley has not been charged or arrested over the allegation, which stems from an interaction on April 9 at a Cleveland hotel.
The Raiders wouldn't have made this first-round selection without doing extensive research on Conley's legal status. They must feel confident Conley will be absolved of wrongdoing.
Conley is a quality football player and an excellent cover man. He has the size Raiders covet in cornerbacks, and allowed just 37 percent of his passes to be completed. Conley allowed just 14 catches for 159 yards last season, and an NFL passer rating of 14.0, according to analytics site Pro Football Focus. That was the best in college football last season.
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Analysts say he's good at making plays on the football, whether it's batting down passes or intercepting passes. Conley excels in press-man coverage, but can work well in a zone as well. He diagnoses plays well, which allows him to make plays on the ball.
The Raiders need depth and competition at cornerback after Sean Smith and David Amerson weren't as solid as expected in 2016.
Conley could be upgrade the secondary in 2017 and beyond if he lives up to his on-field potential.
