Oakland Raiders: Top Five Free Agent Safeties
By Justin Smith
Micah Hyde, Green Bay Packers
You have to label Hyde as a DB because the man has no real fixed position. He’s basically the Pack’s new Charles Woodson, without the immense talent or pedigree. But his versatility is used frequently, and was never more needed than last season.
Hyde played exclusively at free safety and occasionally at strong until 2016. A ton of injuries forced the Packers to turn to anyone with a pulse to play corner. Fortunately, Hyde had more than a pulse. He had a versatile skill set and stepped right in. That’s why many teams will be looking his way.
Where Hyde struggles most, particularly as a safety, is in man coverage. He is an excellent run support player for a natural free safety, and more willing to mix it up than most free safeties. He is an excellent blitzer with at least one sack in every season since 2013.
Hyde is also a respected teammate who has become a leader has taken a role of mentor to younger players despite he himself being only 26 years old.
Where Hyde brings additional value is his special teams prowess. He’s a viable punt returner and excellent gunner on punt coverage. The Raiders have an excellent return man in Jalen Richard already, but every team can use a multi-faceted player that can play on defense and special teams.
Hyde brings a similar skill set to that of Nate Allen but is younger and has a better recent performance track record. And he really brings it when the time counts.
Despite playing different positions throughout the season, Hyde saved his best performance for the playoffs against the Cowboys. He is a versatile player who won’t command top dollar, he’s 26 years old, and he’s only missed one game in four years.
If Byrd could be the steal of the draft, it’s widely believed Hyde may be the bargain of the draft. Of course as that rhetoric gains momentum, it may make Hyde less of a bargain. But he is worth consideration for any team in need of versatile talent who can give you special teams play too.
Oh, and he’ll likely come at a price tag around $3 – $4M per season. He made $1.6M in base salary last season according to Spotrac. So yeah, bargain.
Bradley McDougald, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There are some who consider McDougald perhaps the most undervalued defensive back in this free agent class. I am not one of them, as he routinely shows up in the top ten, but a case can be made that, like Hyde, McDougald deserves a little more cache.
Also like Hyde, McDougald is looking for a bit of a raise from his $2.55M base salary in 2016, per Spotrrac.
Graded a respectable 79.0 (9th among free agent safeties) by PFF in 2016, McDougald’s strengths lay in his run support. He had 92 tackles in 2016, and has made 36 starts for the Bucs since being signed as an undrafted free agent from Kansas in 2013.
Bucs safeties were paid lightly compared to the rest of the league, and no doubt McDougald will be looking for an increase after a solid 2016 campaign. He also had 87 tackles in 2015. Stopping the run and sticking his nose in the mix is not a problem.
However, coverage sometimes is. Although he’s had a few big interceptions the past few years, PFF graded him 47th in coverage out of all safeties last season. That’s not great.
A strength in the run game and not so much in coverage, the Raiders needs lean more toward a safety that can cover the tight ends and still make plays around the ball. McDougald, though viable, does not seem to be the best option for those factors in this class. And he may even command more money than Hyde.