The Las Vegas Raiders secondary is a cause for concern, especially at cornerback, but they added a quality defensive back on Thursday.
Early in free agency, the Las Vegas Raiders looked like they were making a move to add a veteran cornerback to the mix for the 2020 season. Former New York Giants and New Orleans Saints corner Eli Apple agreed to a deal with the team, and would have been an option to start opposite second-year cornerback Trayvon Mullen.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news on Thursday that the deal would not be made, leaving the Raiders with another hole in the position group. To make up for the loss, the Silver and Black agreed on a one-year deal with safety Damarious Randall according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, as they continue to shuffle up their secondary.
Randall is a hard-hitting safety that is going to pair well with second-year player Johnathan Abram. In addition, the Raiders have Erik Harris coming back, and signed Jeff Heath, while toying with the notion of moving Lamarcus Joyner back to safety.
At this point, that position group seems set heading into 2020.
The cornerback spot is another story, as behind Mullen, there is very little left in the cupboard. The team could be in the market to bring back Daryl Worley in 2020, and there are some good names still available via free agency, as they could roll the dice on a Logan Ryan or the recently released Dre Kirkpatrick.
With two first round picks, the likelihood of the Raiders bringing in a cornerback on Day 1 is extremely likely, as there are a few elite prospects in this draft class. Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah will likely be off the board by No. 12, but Florida’s C.J. Henderson and TCU’s Jeff Gladney are options later in round one, as are Alabama’s Trevon Diggs and Kristian Fulton from LSU.
In order to get Fulton or Henderson, they would have to use at least their No. 19 pick, but if they want to move back and possibly get a second round pick to go along with a late first, Diggs or Gladney could be available. Either way, the Raiders have to strike for a cornerback with one of their first two picks, and as we inch closer to the draft, corner could be the most pressing need on this roster, not wide receiver.
Las year, the Raiders selected a cornerback in the second round, bringing in Mullen from Clemson. They could wait again if they can get into the second round, but if they hold on to their two first round picks, and don’t trade down, they have to wait until pick No. 80, which means getting a legitimate starter may be out of the cards.