The Oakland Raiders have had a deficiency at cornerback for years, but the 2019 position group is loaded with talented options.
Last offseason, the Oakland Raiders brought in Rashaan Melvin to take over one of the starting cornerback spots, figuring he could put together a season like he did in 2017 with the Indianapolis Colts. However, Melvin and the coaching staff never gelled, and by the end of the season, he would prove to be a one-and-done player in the Silver and Black.
Looking at the position group in 2018, there were a few bright spots, but none brighter than Gareon Conley. The Raiders 2017 first round pick had struggled to stay healthy enough to produce at the NFL level, but he showed towards the end of the season that he was well worth a first round selection.
Conley ended the season as one of the better cornerbacks in the AFC West, and the Raiders will need him to continue to be in 2019, as they face some stiff quarterback competition. Not only do they face Patrick Mahomes and Philip Rivers twice a season in their division, but they also have some out of division games against Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers.
Based on their tough schedule in 2019, it was clear that the team needed to bring in more talent at cornerback. They drafted Trayvon Mullen in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and then Isaiah Johnson in the fourth, as well as bringing in Lamarcus Joyner via free agency to possibly be their slot corner.
In addition to Melvin last offseason, Daryl Worley was brought in to bolster the position group, and at only 24-years old, he has the opportunity to really make an impact in 2019. The Raiders liked him enough to re-sign him this offseason, and he will have a chance to be a starter on this defense in Year No. 2.
As it stands, guys like Conley, Worley, Mullen, and Joyner will all fight for the starting three spots, and while Joyner played safety with the Los Angeles Rams last season, this coaching staff likes him in the slot. Either way, this is a solid position group, and the team should be much better against the pass in 2019.
Whoever the starters are, the bottom line is that this position group has a lot more talent than it has in years past. Conley showed himself to be an elite cover guy to finish up the 2018 season, and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to build on that success in Year No. 3.