Las Vegas Raiders set for the long-term at cornerback position
The Starters
There are two starters that you can carve in stone for the Raiders at the cornerback position, Mullen and veteran Lamarcus Joyner. Mullen is listed as the starting left corner with Joyner occupying the slot corner position, where he featured in 2019.
Mullen did not start until Week 7, and was a standout on a poor defensive unit, allowing just a 56% completion rate and a 79.7 QB rating in his rookie season.
Joyner struggled at the slot position, and many called for him to move back to his former position of free safety, but the Raiders plan to keep him in the slot for the foreseeable future. He gave up a nearly 70% completion rate and quarterbacks had a 109.8 rating when targeting him in 2019.
It is fair to say that despite his sizable salary, Joyner may not remain the starter in 2020 if he continues to struggle.
The second outside cornerback position is currently occupied by Damon Arnette if the depth charts are to be believed, and if so, the Raiders will play Week 1 with just ten games started total between their two outside corners. Arnette is a tough, physical corner who is faster than his combine time suggests, but it will be trial by fire for the Raiders’ first round pick if he is indeed the starter.
On the flipside, if Arnette lives up to his draft position then it gives the Raiders two quality starting corners 24-years-old or younger.