Safeties who match the Las Vegas Raiders needs in Draft and Free Agency
By BD Williams
Safeties who match the Las Vegas Raiders needs in Draft and Free Agency
Free Agency
The Free Agent safety market is as strong as it has ever been in recent memory despite blue-chippers like Justin Simmons and Marcus Maye unlikely to hit the open market. There are a few players who would thrive in a single high role and could relish the opportunity to play for Bradley in a notoriously DB-friendly system.
- Marcus Williams, Saints – 6’1 205 ~$10.6 Million
Marcus Williams will make himself a lot of money this off-season, as if the Saints choose to franchise tag him, he will be guaranteed more than $14 million. In a normal year, that would be the most likely scenario, however, due to COVID limiting ticket sales, and league revenue being down, teams are forced to adhere to a tighter salary cap in 2021 which means Williams may walk.
A pure free safety, Williams erases his teammates’ mistakes and would be an instant boost to the pass defense.
- Anthony Harris, Vikings – 6’1 190 ~$9.8 Million
Harris had a down year in Mike Zimmer’s defense in 2020, but so did the rest of the team on that side of the ball. When you realize that Zimmer’s defense is the exact same defense Paul Guenther was running in Las Vegas, and put two and two together, Harris could very well be in for better things if he tests the free-agent market.
Harris has the instincts and playing speed to execute any coverage in football and has made his fair share of spectacular plays in the NFL during his career.
- Tre Boston, Panthers – 6’0 210 ~ $ 6 Million
Go back to 2017, when Boston snagged a career-high five interceptions and had eight pass breakups as a Los Angeles Charger, that was under the tutelage of Gus Bradley and new Raiders defensive back coach Ron Milus. Boston has definitely lost a step, and for some reason doesn’t seem to ever sign with a new team until right before training camp, so if the Raiders strike out in free agency, Boston will be the man to bring in.
- Malik Hooker, Colts – 6’1 205 ~$4.6 Million
Hooker is a prime candidate for a one-year, prove-it deal to maximize his value for the next free agency cycle. What better way to do it than coming to a team that will ask him to play to his strengths, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL.
As a deep safety Hooker has the highest upside of any player on this list. In a perfect world, Hooker really should be a highly sought-after free agent, however, injury concerns (has never made it through a full NFL season) will be the reason why he won’t get a deal commensurate with his talent.
Next. 2021 NFL Draft: Greg Newsome II can be a lockdown CB for the Raiders. dark
- Ricardo Allen, Falcons – 5’9 195 ~ $ 4 Million
Allen shouldn’t be the plan, but he could be the fallback for the Raiders if they safety the draft isn’t ready to start Week 1. The oldest player on this list, Allen is a wily vet who likely won’t make a huge impact, but he fits the scheme and would supply a veteran presence on the back end.