Raiders 2022 free agency: All boxes checked on the defense
Raiders 2022 free agency: All boxes checked on the defense
Issues at cornerback
One of the biggest problems the Raiders’ defense faced heading into the off-season was the seemingly inevitable departure of starting cornerback Casey Hayward. With Gus Bradley manning the defense coordinator post, it seemed likely Hayward would return after an impressive ’21 campaign. Once Bradley was replaced, however, the reality began to sink in; Hayward was not coming back.
On the first day of the free agency signing period, it started to become clear there was a plan. In a move that no one could’ve seen coming, Las Vegas acquired the top edge rusher of free agency, trading Pro Bowl alternate Yannick Ngakoue in the process. This move lead to the first box being checked; Casey Hayward’s replacement.
The Raiders and Colts had been in deep discussion regarding this swap well before it all unraveled. To pull the trigger, though, Las Vegas first needed their new edge rusher. This new edge rusher was 2x first-team All-Pro Chandler Jones.
Ngakoue came off of a 10-sack season with the Raiders, which made it hard to believe he was being traded. Perhaps even harder to believe is the fact Ngakoue wasn’t only replaced but replaced by a higher caliber player. Recording at least eight sacks each year in his six-year professional career, Ngakoue is a special player. That’s why in return, Las Vegas received a promising young cornerback.
The first two-years of Ya-Sin’s career weren’t anything special, but this past season was off the charts, specifically in man coverage. During the ’21 season, no cornerback in the NFL allowed a lower completion percentage in man coverage than Ya-Sin. In his last year in Indianapolis, he allowed an unreal 26% of passes his way to be completed while playing man to man.
Think about that for a second – For every four passes that came Ya-Sin’s way in man coverage, only one was able to be completed.
Acquiring a replacement for Hayward wasn’t the only thing the Raiders did for the cornerback unit, though. Patrick Graham was vocal about wanting multiple quality corners, and the front office delivered. In addition to Ya-Sin, Las Vegas also signed cornerback Anthony Averett.
Averett started 14 contests last year, showing he has what it takes to go up against some of the best offensive weapons in the league. On 101 targets, he allowed 55.4% to be completed, with an opposing quarterback rating of 77.5. Averett has proved he can be a starting corner and is now coming in as the third outside guy.
Darrius Phillips, the first player the Raiders agreed to terms with during the free agency period, was also brought in. I suspect he’ll be more of a special teams player with Las Vegas eventually bringing in another corner, but either way, he should get some run on defense. Graham likes secondary action, and Phillips, who recorded 12 pass defenses in 2020, likely will get another chance to prove himself.
Just four days after the ’22 Super Bowl, nickel corner Cre’von LeBlanc agreed to a future reserve contract with the Raiders. The two cornerback problems heading into free agency, being a second starting outside corner and depth; Check and check.