The Oakland Raiders got a standout effort from cornerback Gareon Conley in year two, as he turned himself into a legitimate shutdown corner.
Did the Oakland Raiders screw up by drafting cornerback Gareon Conley with their first round pick?
Those were one of many questions being asked in the 2018 offseason for the Oakland Raiders. Conley hardly saw the field in 2018 due to injuries. Some of Raider nation even jumped the gun and said that he was essentially the new D.J. Hayden.
It was a laughable narrative, but not shocking considering how much this fan base overreacts. The only way Conley was going to win the hearts of the fans was if he played at an elite level. That’s the standard for players when you get selected in the first round.
It wasn’t going to be an easy task since Conley didn’t play out his rookie season. There was a new coaching staff for the Oakland Raiders along with many events transpiring on the team. 2018 was going to be a big year for Gareon Conley. Either he was going to flame out and maybe suffer another injury or he was going to ball out and show everyone why he was selected in the first round.
Expectations
When it came to Gareon Conley, there wasn’t a concrete expectation for him entering 2018. There was more so hope than expectations. The hope that he would be able to overcome his injuries. The hope that he would turn into an elite cornerback like how his draft position suggested. The Oakland Raiders brought in Rashaan Melvin, who initially was thought to be their No. 1 corner followed by Conley. It was a cautious and smart move considering Conley hardly had a true rookie season. Personally, I was excited to see Conley this year because I knew what he could do in coverage. It was just the injuries that derailed him. So long as he can overcome and avoid them, then his 2018 season would be promising.
Reality
The first quarter or so in the regular season wasn’t too kind to Gareon Conley. He wasn’t consistent in coverage and was a liability when it came to tackling. However, none of this should’ve been shocking to anyone. This was essentially his rookie season and needed time to get his feet wet. Many rushed to conclusions that Conley was a bust. He was even benched entering the middle of the season due to poor performance, which was an idiotic move considering the players in the secondary were all one year contract players who are old.
Conley soon found himself back in the lineup because the old players in the secondary shockingly looked old and slow in coverage. After reinsertion into the lineup, Conley started to look more sure of himself. He started to look like the player in college that caught the eye of the Raiders. His tackling was still questionable, but that’s an overrated ability for a cornerback in this day in age of the NFL. Conley’s fluidity and discipline in coverage was being recognized as exceptional, which is the only thing that matters next to his health.
It was an amazing turnaround after his benching or maybe it was because he was still a rookie that just needed snaps to get accustomed to the game? Whatever the case may be, Conley established himself as a rising star. According to Pro Football Focus, Conley’s 72.8 passer rating allowed when targeted this season ranked 9th among 85 cornerbacks that played 300+ coverage snaps. I’m sure everyone who mentioned him and DJ Hayden in the same sentence are now eating a buffet full of crow.
Looking Ahead
Now that Gareon Conley’s development has proved wonders, he must continue to get better. Any lapse or regression next season for him will only bring out irrational backlash. However, I fully expect Conley to be minimally targeted next season. More so because he is the best corner on the Raider’s roster, so it’s more enticing and ideal to throw to the other unproven cornerbacks. It’s not just his play that must maintain consistency, but his injuries. Conley was essentially healthy for the majority of the 2018 season, which is a great sign considering he suffered an injury on the first day of training camp.
Injuries are out of his control, but it’s the number one priority to keep an eye on. His performance and development will not matter if he can’t get on the field. At this point, I’d say he’s balanced out now. He doesn’t look as injury prone as before, but this upcoming season will be telling. In a division where two of the opposing teams have phenomenal receivers, attaining elite cornerbacks is crucial. Gareon Conley needs to ride his 2018 momentum into 2019 to put the league on notice. He’s already caught some attention after this season, but the true test will be what he does for this year.
Grade: B