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Oakland Raiders: 5 free safeties to target in 2018 NFL free agency

By John Buhler

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 10: Safety Tre Boston No. 33 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up for the game against the Washington Redskins on December 10, 2017 at StubHub Center in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 10: Safety Tre Boston No. 33 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up for the game against the Washington Redskins on December 10, 2017 at StubHub Center in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – DECEMBER 04: Eddie Pleasant No. 35 of the Houston Texans defends a pass intended for Jared Cook No. 89 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 4, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – DECEMBER 04: Eddie Pleasant No. 35 of the Houston Texans defends a pass intended for Jared Cook No. 89 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 4, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

10. . FS. Houston Texans. Eddie Pleasant. 3. player

One free safety that could be a good under-the-radar signing is long-time Houston Texans defensive back Eddie Pleasant. He has played his entire NFL career in Houston out of Oregon. At 29 years old, Pleasant could be ready for a bigger role in an NFL defense.

Though he has played in 78 games in his NFL career, Pleasant has played sparingly in Houston. To be fair, he is a former sixth-round pick by the Texans out of Oregon in 2012. Let’s not forget that the Texans have usually had one of the better defenses in the NFL during his time in Houston. He could be capable of more, but the Texans haven’t asked more out of him yet.

Given that he is younger than Nelson, he might be a player Guenther could turn into a solid starting-level free safety in his system. What was Nelson before he played with Guenther in Cincinnati? Not an amazing player for the Jacksonville Jaguars coming out of Florida.

Pleasant perhaps best illustrates how slim the free safety market is this offseason. Yes, there are a few players that could stand to make a bit of coin in the open market. However, most of the free agent free safeties are like Pleasant. Guys that have been mostly backups, perhaps waiting for their first big opportunity to garner a starting role.

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