Oakland Raiders: 5 players whose stock has dropped this preseason
By Kenny King
Nick Nelson, CB
Nick Nelson, a 2018 fourth round pick out of Wisconsin, competed in ten games last season and showed flashes of being a legitimate nickel corner. Nelson tallied 20 tackles (10 solo) and one pass defended in those games, and played a majority of his snaps at nickel in a secondary that was decimated by injuries, player benching and untimely retirements.
The 2019 NFL draft, free agency period, and training camp has brought in a significant increase in talent. Rookies Trayvon Mullen, Isaiah Johnson, and UDFA standout Keisann Nixon have played very well this summer, and let us not forget the role Lamarcus Joyner will play on this defense in 2019.
The hard-hitting safety/corner hybrid, who joined the team via free agency after spending the past five years with the Rams has already taken on a leadership role in the Silver and Black.
Joyner is going to be the team’s nickel corner this season, and has excelled historically in that position, outside of performing extraordinarily well this preseason. With the solid play of veterans like Daryl Worley, Gareon Conley, and Joyner, to go along with exciting play from the rookie class, Nelson seems to have depreciated in value especially after blowing coverage on highlighted touchdowns vs. both the Cardinals and the Packers in back to back weeks.