5 Las Vegas Raiders who are on the hot seat entering the 2020 season
By Evan Groat
Lamarcus Joyner
For all the same reasons that Tyrell Williams is on the hot seat, Lamarcus Joyner finds himself in a make or break year as well. Another big signing in the 2019 free agent class, Joyner had a rough first year with the Raiders.
Joyner was brought in to provide leadership to a young secondary, and be used primarily as the slot corner, but he struggled on the field.
While he may have been great in his role as big brother to the young pups, he certainly did not bring a high level of play to the field. If wide receiver was priority number one in the offseason, improving the secondary was not far behind on the list of needs.
The main reason why Joyner should be concerned is because the Raiders drafted a younger, cheaper, and maybe even more talented version of himself in Amik Robertson. Robertson, is a prototypical slot corner in the NFL, and what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in confidence.
If Joyner does not elevate his level of play in 2020, and Robertson proves he can be relied upon as a long-term replacement, then it will be hard to justify paying Joyner $11.2 million in the 2021 season. Cutting Joyner after this upcoming season would cost the team $2.5 million in dead cap, but a savings of roughly $9 million.