Raiders roster: 3 current starters fighting for their job this summer
CB Damon Arnette
The Raiders have provided a few head-scratching picks during the first round of the draft in recent years. It started with Clelin Ferrell in 2019 and has continued with offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood in this year’s draft. Smack dab right in the middle of them is cornerback out of Ohio State, Damon Arnette.
There is no denying that Arnette’s physical style of play is on par with the type of corners Mike Mayock likes to bring in, but most analysts viewed him as an early Day, 2 player, at best though.
During his rookie season, Arnette showed flashes of being a good cornerback. Playing opposite of Trayvon Mullen, he saw plenty of targets as a lot of teams liked to test the aggressive rookie. One thing was for certain though, which went for the whole defensive back group; a veteran was needed for these young guys to grow and progress.
Insert former Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward.
The one thing that made Hayward a perfect fit for the Silver and Black was simply that he came from the exact scheme Gus Bradley used in Los Angeles the year prior. He knows the system, knows the calls and nuances, and can educate the rest of the group from Day 1.
He also has been vocal about not adjusting to a different spot within the defensive backfield, indicating he’s coming for a starting role at outside cornerback. With Trayvon Mullen taking a big leap last year, his spot is all but solidified.
If Arnette doesn’t show improvement, or progresses slower then expected, we could see Bradley decide to go with his familiar face in Week 1. Just like Ferrell though, I’d expect that it would result in Arnette potentially bumping inside to start at the slot corner position.
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 UDFAs with the best chance to make the roster
Every year a handful of undrafted free agents fight their way onto the 53-man roster. Here are five players who have a shot for the Las Vegas Raiders
With Lamarcus Joyner gone, he could easily step into that role, especially with his tendency to play in-your-face press coverage. But if Bradley decides to keep him on the outside, Arnette could see a heavy rotational role until he’s experienced enough to take back his starting status.