The Las Vegas Raiders have neglected the defensive backfield in free agency, but will a Karl Joseph could shore up their issues at free safety?
Reports came out yesterday evening that Karl Joseph visited with the Las Vegas Raiders to possibly fill the vacant free safety position. Joseph would be returning to the Silver and Black after spending the last season with the Cleveland Browns.
A blast from the past: Former #Raiders first-round pick safety Karl Joseph is visiting with the #Raiders right now, source said. A possible secondary addition.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2021
Joseph was a first-round pick for the Raiders in 2016. Coming out of West Virginia, Joseph was considered a hard-hitting, ball hawk safety prospect, but unfortunately for Raiders fans, only one of those came true. Joseph was beloved for his bone-crunching hits, laying out ball carriers much bigger than his 5’10 frame. However perhaps due to his stature, Joseph was routinely on the bad end of highlight plays in coverage especially when it came to defending tight-ends.
Joseph was always at his best coming forward and for this writer’s money, one of the better run defending safeties in football during his time with the Raiders. That being said, the Paul Guenther scheme change seemed to continually put Joseph in situations that rarely played to his strengths and the Raiders ended up not bringing him back when his rookie contract expired.
Raiders would get more from KuJo under Gus Bradley
Now that Gus Bradley is the defensive coordinator, a potential Joseph return could finally put the fierce defensive back in a friendlier position to make an impact in the passing game. Check out this interception Joseph notched as Brown in 2020.
It’s conceivable that Joseph could come in play the deep middle in a cover 3 scheme with better results than he had in coverage as a Raider (relatively low bar has been set). Under the tutelage of Ron Milus and Gus Bradley, Joseph would likely receive some of the best coaching of his career.
Another tidbit to note: Mike Mayock was on record before the 2016 draft comparing Karl Joseph to Earl Thomas. Earl Thomas of course coming to prominence as a member of the Legion of Boom defense orchestrated by now Raiders defensive coordinator Bradley.
If Mayock and Bradley see eye-to-eye about Joseph’s ability to be the free safety that he was never allowed to be, expect to see Joseph sign. Coming to a familiar environment, Joseph should have the confidence he needs to fulfill the legacy he started as an Oakland Raider.