Raiders Eyeing More Cornerback Help

This offseason, the Raiders have added Nevin Lawson to their cornerback corps and retained Daryl Worley via second-round tender. UFA safety addition Lamarcus Joyner is also expected to help out in the slot.

Oakland remains in pursuit of more help at corner, though, Jon Gruden confirmed, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area.

At this point, the logical scenario for the Raiders adding help here will come through the draft. They hold four of the draft’s top 35 selections. Although, the Raiders are in dire need of edge-rushing help, having only added Josh Mauro to a group chiefly responsible for a 13-sack season — the fewest any team has registered since 2008. And the Raiders have done some extensive research on quarterbacks, meeting with both Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins.

As of now, Worley and Gareon Conley stand to start on the outside, with Lawson potentially serving as a top backup and Joyner contributing in the slot. Nick Nelson, a 2018 fourth-round pick, is expected to be in the mix as well. Worley and Lawson are only signed through 2019. Pro Football Focus graded none of Oakland’s cornerbacks particularly well last season, with Conley topping the group in being graded as last year’s No. 68 corner in 679 snaps.

We are looking for another corner,” Gruden said. “I think you need five corners. I think you gotta have five because they do get banged up. It is a very difficult position to play and sometimes you want to play three or four at a time.”

During Gruden’s second stint, the Raiders have obviously shown they are not averse to adding free agents in bulk. Morris Claiborne remains on the market. Brent Grimes is not yet planning a retirement. Davon House, Jamar Taylor and Kayvon Webster are also unattached. But higher-upside prospects certainly will be available later this month.

Greedy Williams, Deandre Baker, Rock Ya-Sin and Byron Murphy front a corner class that is not viewed as exceptional, but it’s a safe bet multiple members of this group will be first-round picks. The Raiders hold picks 24 and 27, which would place them in the range to land a member of this quartet.

View Comments (9)