Las Vegas Raiders must upgrade all three levels of the defense in 2020

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Dion Lewis #33 of the Tennessee Titans is tackled by Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at RingCentral Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Dion Lewis #33 of the Tennessee Titans is tackled by Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at RingCentral Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 29: Lamarcus Joyner #29 of the Oakland Raiders reacts after making a tackle for a loss during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 29: Lamarcus Joyner #29 of the Oakland Raiders reacts after making a tackle for a loss during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)

Secondary

The Raiders secondary added some key pieces this past offseason, bringing in Lamarcus Joyner via free agency, re-signing Daryl Worley to a one-year deal, and selecting both Johnathan Abram and Trayvon Mullen early in the 2019 NFL Draft. While Abram missed nearly the entire year due to his shoulder, Mullen proved to be a potential CB1 for the Silver and Black, something the franchise has been looking for.

As they enter Las Vegas, the safety position should be set if they bring back Karl Joseph and team him with Abram, Erik Harris, and Lamarcus Joyner. Of course, if the Raiders do move on from KuJo, then they have enough talent at the starting spots, especially if Abram is half the player the fan base expects him to be.

At cornerback, Mullen is locked in at No. 1, and Worley should be right there with him in the starting lineup. Keisean Nixon is a good-looking young prospect at the position, but there is still work to be one. In free agency, guys like Byron Jones and Logan Ryan, and there is some elite talent to be hard in the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Worley should be brought back as a free agent, and with Joyner moving over to safety, that group could be one of the best in the division. The Raiders have had their issues in the defensive backfield for as long as I can remember, but they are stacking young talent, and may be a piece or two away from being actually stout back there for a long time.

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