Story by
Raiders should target these three defensive backs before training camp
- Story by
- Raiders should target these three defensive backs before training camp
Brad Rempel-Imagn Images Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Before the Las Vegas Raiders parted ways for a summer break, they signed linebacker Germaine Pratt to a one-year deal, addressing their most significant roster need.
What's next?
Las Vegas also hosted a veteran cornerback on a visit, which may indicate its intention to bolster the secondary.
Advertisement
Currently, the Raiders have a young cornerback group with rookie third-rounder Darien Porter , second-year pro Decamerion Richardson , third-year cover man Jakorian Bennett and undrafted rookie Mello Dotson in competition for starting positions. Eric Stokes is the most experienced member of that unit.
Aside from cornerback, head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham may look for help at safety while they experiment with Jeremy Chinn 's role.
Here are a few moves the Raiders can make to shore up the roster before training camp begins next month.
Sign cornerback Shaquill Griffin
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , the Raiders hosted Shaquill Griffin for a visit during mandatory minicamp. Las Vegas has a wide-open battle for both starting cornerback spots on the boundary. Griffin, a 2019 Pro Bowler under Carroll in Seattle , could be a solid pickup for a young cornerback room.
Advertisement
Since Griffin's 2020 campaign with the Seahawks, he's bounced around the league, playing for four teams. Over the last two years, the veteran cornerback has performed well in a rotational role.
As a semi-starter with the Houston Texans during the 2023 season, Griffin recorded four pass breakups and an interception while allowing a 71.4 passer rating in coverage. Last year, he played 50% of the defensive snaps with the Minnesota Vikings , recording six pass breakups and two interceptions while allowing a 75.8 passer rating.
Griffin can be a plug-and-play option if the Raiders want more experience in the secondary.
Sign cornerback Mike Hilton
Mike Hilton is one of the top free agents available. He's been one of the more productive slot cornerbacks in recent seasons, logging 24 tackles for loss, three interceptions and 13 pass breakups since 2023.
Advertisement
Hilton would be an upgrade over Darnay Holmes in the slot. The Raiders have tinkered with their nickel alignments through the spring to find the best five defensive backs for that formation. Hilton doesn't have much experience on the boundary, but one can make the case that the slot position is the most significant need on the Raiders roster.
Sign safety John Johnson III
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Through mandatory minicamp, The Athletic's Tashan Reed noted that the Raiders have utilized Chinn as a chess piece on the back end of the defense, though he's taken a lot of snaps in the slot.
"During OTAs, the Raiders have moved Chinn around frequently," Reed wrote. "They don't have a quality answer at nickelback, so they've frequently used three-safety lineups with Chinn in the slot while [Isaiah] Pola-Mao and Lonnie Johnson Jr. operate as traditional safeties."
Advertisement
If the coaching staff plans to move Chinn around, the team could add another safety into the mix with Johnson and Thomas Harper in rotational roles alongside Pola-Mao.
John Johnson III would be a logical fit because of his experience at both safety spots and in the nickel. According to Pro Football Focus , he's logged 3,172 snaps at free safety, 1,930 snaps in the box and 728 snaps in the slot.
Johnson missed most of the 2024 season with a hairline fracture in his scapula. If healthy, he can provide quality depth at safety. The 29-year-old has versatility similar to Chinn.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton .
Advertisement
Related Headlines
