Las Vegas Raiders: Predicting winners of top 6 training camp battles
Starting Cornerback
Top Competitors Vying for Spot: Damon Arnette, Prince Amukamara, Isaiah Johnson, Keisean Nixon, Ken Crawley, Madre Harper
This is easily the top position battle at camp. The Raiders need someone to fill the boundary role opposite Trayvon Mullen following Daryl Worley’s departure to Dallas.
Eventually, Damon Arnette will hold the position. Team brass selected him with No. 19 overall pick in April’s draft. In May, the Raiders signed 10th-year veteran Prince Amukamara. He’s the insurance policy in case the rookie isn’t ready to start Week 1.
At 31 years old, Amukamara still has some juice left. More importantly, he’s a confident press cornerback who sees a good fit for himself in defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s system, per Kyle Martin of the team’s official website.
“With Paul’s defense, I followed him when he was at Cincinnati and you can see the guys are aggressive, and he likes for his guys to press and I think that’s where I flourish,” Amukamara said. “I’m one of, if not the best, corners in press, man-to-man coverage in the league and I have the tape to show that.”
Amukamara will open the season as a starter and hand the baton off to Arnette at some point during the campaign.
Prediction: Amukamara