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2018 Oakland Raiders: Early Team MVP Award predictions

By Brad Weiss

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 19: Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders gets past Terrance Mitchell #39 of the Kansas City Chiefs to score a touchdown at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 19: Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders gets past Terrance Mitchell #39 of the Kansas City Chiefs to score a touchdown at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 24: Rashaan Melvin#30 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball after intercepting a pass during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 24: Rashaan Melvin#30 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball after intercepting a pass during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Rashaan Melvin

The cornerback position for the Oakland Raiders has been a mess for quite some time, and the organization knew they need to change things up this offseason. They pretty much replaced the entire unit from last season, as guys like Sean Smith and David Amerson were cut, and T.J. Carrie signed on with the Cleveland Browns.

Carrie was the team’s best cornerback last season, as it got nothing from 2017 first round selection Gareon Conley. Conley had to deal with a shin injury all season long, but is close to being fully cleared for activities, and has shown incredible athleticism already this offseason.

During the offseason, the Raiders made a pretty big signing, that at the time, flew a bit under the rader. The team went out and got free agent cornerback Rashaan Melvin, who last season, was a top-20 corner for the Indianapolis Colts according to Pro Football Focus.

If Melvin can come in and be the leader of the cornerback group, then his value to team will be unmatched by any other player on it. This has been an issue for a while now, and Melvin showed in 2017 that he can shut down even the elite of elite when it comes to NFL wide receivers.

Melvin is a good player, but he has the opportunity to become one of the elite at his position with the Silver and Black. There is no word on what Conley is going to bring to the table just yet, but we saw last season that Melvin can get the job done, no matter who is lined up across from him.

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