Oakland Raiders: 5 internal questions to ask before free agency

Does Reggie Nelson have a role in Paul Guenther’s defense?

Perhaps the most thought-provoking free agency of all for the Raiders is safety Reggie Nelson’s. He had a rough 2017 season with the Raiders. Not exactly what he wanted to do hitting free agency for the second time in three years. However, he had been a Pro Bowler the two years prior to 2017. For the right price, would the veteran safety stick for a second contract in Oakland?

Had the previous regime remained in place, that did not seem likely. Nelson is in his mid-30s and struggled mightily in pass coverage last fall. However, he did a fine job in stopping the run as a free safety. Oakland might have moved off him had Del Rio gotten a fourth year with the team. But how does Paul Guenther’s arrival in the Bay Area change all of this?

Guenther had worked with Nelson for six years together on the Bengals defense. Nelson made his first Pro Bowl in 2015 in Cincinnati with Guenther as his defensive coordinator. His ball-hawking ability allowed him to reach Pro Bowls into his 30s. However, that fell to the wayside last year, as the Raiders struggled to intercept footballs all season long.

Given that Guenther likes to play savvy veterans and has a previous working relationship with Nelson, the duo could reunite in Oakland in 2018. Nelson will not garner the same contract he earned in 2016 free agency, but could ink a new deal to stay with the Raiders for 2018 and beyond. It really all depends on if Guenther sees Nelson as salvageable. If he’s also-ran, then it’s time to get another safety in free agency.