Upgrade at cornerback
One of the biggest areas of need this offseason was cornerback, as the team was absolute horrible at the position last season. Guys like David Amerson and Sean Smith were not reliable in the starting role, and their best corner ended up being T.J. Carrie, who mostly played the nickel.
Rookie Gareon Conley played sparingly as he dealt with a shin injury, and the rest of the position group was nothing to write home about. One of the first moves that was made was Smith’s release, thanks in part to him going to jail, and Carrie made the decision to join the Cleveland Browns.
With really only Conley left, the Raiders started making moves, bringing in Rashaan Melvin from Indianapolis. Melvin was an absolute steal on a one-year deal, bringing to Oakland the talent to be a legitimate starter on this team opposite Conley this season.
In addition, the Raiders added guys like Daryl Worley, Leon Hall, and Shareece Wright, giving them tremendous depth at the position. In addition, the team drafted Nick Nelson in the fourth round, and many believe his going to be a dominant cover corner in the NFL. The group is much-improved, and could end up being a strength in 2018.