Las Vegas Raiders: Fact or fiction for biggest 2020 season question marks
Las Vegas Raiders: Fact or fiction for biggest 2020 season question marks
Prince Amukamara Starts Over Damon Arnette Week 1
The Raiders signed cornerback Prince Amukamara after the draft. He essentially replaced Eli Apple whose deal fell through for undisclosed reasons.
Amukamara will provide veteran insurance on the boundary in case Damon Arnette isn’t ready to start Week 1. That’s the most probable scenario.
We can’t underestimate Arnette’s ability to win the starting spot though. He spent five years at Ohio State. He’ll turn 24 years old before the 2020 campaign starts, so the former Buckeye has played more football than most rookies.
Yet Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther may ease Arnette into a prominent role as they did with Trayvon Mullen last season.
As a rookie, Mullen played 64 defensive snaps within the first three weeks. Yet he didn’t take over the starting job until Week 8 after the Raiders traded Gareon Conley to the Houston Texans.
Like Mullen, Arnette doesn’t have to start right away. With Amukamara on a one-year deal, he’s a placeholder for the rookie first-rounder.
As Arnette becomes comfortable in Guenther’s scheme, he’ll see more snaps until team brass feels he’s ready to stand on an island in a full-time role. Expect Amukamara to lay the groundwork first.