Oakland Raiders: Signing Chimdi Chekwa Good Call

Several reports, including one from the Associated Press (via FoxSports.com) had the Oakland Raiders bringing back cornerback Chimdi Chekwa back after being released by the New England Patriots earlier in the week. Chekwa, a player previously on the Raiders roster from 2011 to 2014, played in several games last year for the Raiders and gave them some depth at the position. He is expected to do the same in 2015.

General manager Reggie McKenzie has been attempting to re-tool the secondary since the 2014 season ended, and this signing will most likely be the sign of that continuing. While Chekwa isn’t what anyone would call a shutdown corner, he has appeared in over 30 games while playing for the Raiders, and can be a quality insurance policy if Oakland loses D.J. Hayden or last year’s young breakout player T.J. Carrie.

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Chekwa is also a very good special teams player, evidenced by the fact that he was one of the leaders in special teams tackles last year for Oakland. Anytime you can bring back a player that is not only familiar with the franchise, but can spot start at a depth needy position and play special teams for you, all at most likely a low risk deal, you do it. McKenzie was able to accomplish all of this without any risk to the team.

The Raiders are in need of a big change in productivity when it comes to their secondary. A quick look at their projected starters from last year shows that, specifically when you look at their ratings on Pro Football Focus. Nate Allen, who was discussed here last week, is really the only projected starter in the Raiders secondary that had a decent 2014. Projections are no sure thing, and players can surprise and steal jobs. But at this point, the starters aren’t exactly big time performers.

We can give Hayden a pass for the most part, as he has battled some health issues that could have been career ending, and Carrie was a rookie last year who out performed his projections as a 7th rounder. But the truth is they, as well as long time veteran Charles Woodson, were rated at or below average in all important measurable and statistics by PFF.com. And when it comes to the corner position, there isn’t a ton of on the field experience.

More than any other reason, that’s why the Chekwa signing was a smart move. While I believe talent is an important quality in a starting NFL corner, confidence and experience are arguably as important, if not more. Knowing an opposing quarterbacks tendencies because you’ve seen them first hand several times on the field is a major advantage.

Chekwa has seen Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning and Alex Smith a lot more than any other corner on the Raiders roster. When you consider the turnover at the corner position for the Raiders since Chekwa was drafted by them in 2011 (12 different starters over that time), the move makes even more sense.

While this signing won’t cause ESPN to break away from their deflate gate controversy coverage any time soon, it should be welcome news for all Raider fans. Chekwa is a quality depth addition to the team at a position the Raiders have almost no veteran players. And while he most likely won’t be their defensive MVP, he will give them some confidence when it comes to injury coverage and veteran mentorship.

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