Raiders 2022 offseason: 3 reasons the defense got better on Day 1

Raiders 2022 offseason: 3 reasons the defense got better on Day 1

Ya-Sin upgrades the secondary

One area defensive coordinator Patrick Graham hasn’t shied away from addressing is the cornerback unit. Graham has expressed the interest in adding four or five athletic corners he can plug and play, and Rock Ya-Sin goes a long way here.

With Casey Hayward’s future status still up in the air, Ya-Sin comes in as the immediate starter opposite of Trayvon Mullen. He’s coming off his best season as a pro, where he allowed a completion percentage of 53.3 and an opposing quarterback rating of 88.8. The cornerback was also able to break up 8 passes, as well as recover a fumble.

It’s true Casey Hayward is still the ideal option between the two, but what’s important is the Raiders have a solid plan-B in the event Hayward chooses to go to Indianapolis with Bradley. If Hayward returns, that’s also great, as the Raiders would be much deeper with stronger passing defenses.

The now-former Colt isn’t responsible for eye-popping numbers, but the athletic 25-year-old corner brings versatility to a position of need in the secondary. Entering his contract year, Ya-Sin has something to play for and should bring an added spark with him.

Ya-Sin was one of the picks the Colts gained in a trade with the New York Jets, who traded up to grab Sam Darnold at 3 in the 2019 NFL draft.