Oakland Raiders: Offseason Winners and Losers
By Justin Smith
D.J. Hayden, CB
Raider Nation has always pulled for Hayden, a kid who almost died on the field and battled back from that horrific injury to say the right things and bring a good attitude to Oakland in the beginning.
As the years have passed, Hayden hasn’t progressed as expected. Or at all, really. Statistically, and by the eye test, you could make a case that he’s regressed since 2013. He still gets caught looking in the backfield too often, doesn’t track the ball, gets pushed around in press coverage, and doesn’t have the size, strength or passion to be a run stopper. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. flatly stated Hayden didn’t practice well enough last year, and backed that up by benching him toward the end of the season.
All this was before the signings of Smith and Nelson and the drafting of Joseph. With Carrie now free to return to corner it likely relegates Hayden to the bench, or dime corner at the least.
The addition of talent and depth to Oakland’s defensive backfield spells doom for those who aren’t performing – Jack Del Rio is about production not pedigree – and the Raiders sent a clear message when they declined Hayden’s fifth-year option. This was after being impressed enough with CB Neiko Thorpe to apply a second-round tender to him as an RFA. Hayden is clearly the odd man out in the Raiders defensive backfield at this point and needs the light to go on quickly if he wants to continue in Oakland.
Next: Raiders Offseason Review: Losers