Oakland Raiders: Ranking the remaining safety options
By Austin Gayle
2. Rashad Johnson
After reportedly withdrawing their interest from Arizona Cardinals restricted free agent Tony Jefferson, Oakland could look to bring in another Cardinals safety to fill their need in the secondary.
Rashad Johnson, a seven-year veteran out of Alabama, is a smart, technical safety that has above-average play recognition for the position. With that being said, he is capable to bait the quarterback into bad throws or surge into the backfield against the run, but he still lacks the intangibles necessary for him to be a consistent playmaker. At 5’11”, 204 pounds, Johnson can struggle to get off blocks and has yet to prove that he can be a reliable tackler near the line of scrimmage.
In 2015, Johnson accumulated 61 tackles, seven passes defensed, and a career-high five interceptions in just 14 games.
Though he may not be as talented as Jefferson, Johnson still has the cerebral element necessary to play at a high level in this league. Johnson, 30, could play both strong or free safety if awarded the starting job in Oakland.