Raiders: Positional pairs to bring back during 2023 free agency
![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) is tackled on the one-yard line by Las Vegas Raiders safety Duron Harmon (30) and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (26) during second-quarter action. This set up Etienne’s touchdown dive on the next play. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Las Vegas Raiders at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, November 6, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 20 to 10 at the end of the first half. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 110622 Bs Jaguars Vs R 39](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fjustblogbaby-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F19376439-baf867416899c7b9801fe4143d5d6be8d72ceefae5e693f1b0a037d7e2471cfb.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) is tackled on the one-yard line by Las Vegas Raiders safety Duron Harmon (30) and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (26) during second-quarter action. This set up Etienne’s touchdown dive on the next play. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Las Vegas Raiders at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, November 6, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 20 to 10 at the end of the first half. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 110622 Bs Jaguars Vs R 39")
Raiders: Positional pairs to bring back during 2023 free agency
Rockin’ Sin City in Harmon-y
- Rock Ya-Sin and Duron Harmon
Two of the better players that were brought in by the Raiders were safety Daron Harmon and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. Harmon was a former Patriot that came in and really became a solid veteran on the back end of the defense, oftentimes having to make up for sloppy play in his counterpart, Travon Moehrig.
Rock Ya-Sin was acquired by the Raiders in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts that involved a straight-up swap for DE Yannick Ngakoue. Ya-Sin was on the last year of his deal and provided to be a very stout defender on the outside. After the Raiders traded CB Trayvon Mullen to the Cardinals right before roster cutdowns, it all but solidified a starting spot for Ya-Sin.
The Raiders defensive backfield had its share of the injury bug this season. On top of that, they had very limited depth and struggled when they saw Nate Hobbs hit the IR early in the year, and later Rock Ya-Sin ended the season on it. What he did provide throughout the year proved that he could succeed and thrive in this Patrick Graham defense.
Both are veterans that already have one year in the system. New faces mean new growing pains as they develop through the system, and a couple of veteran players to help guide them along is needed on any team.
Harmon would probably warrant a shorter deal due to his age, but Ya-Sin could be one of the more coveted corners in free agency. Whatever the case may be though, it would go a long way for this defense to keep both their first-year bright spots in the Silver and Black.
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