Oakland Raiders: Young secondary will change entire season

The Oakland Raiders addressed their secondary with veterans last year to mixed results, but the influx of young talent may finally give the unit life.

Last season’s Oakland Raiders might have been a surprise to some. After a mediocre 7-9 season in 2015, the Raiders made their first playoff appearance since their Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. The offense was led by third-year quarterback Derek Carr and featured an impressive passing attack combined with a versatile run game, anchored by their all-star caliber offensive line.

Their defense was formidable thanks to third-year edge rusher Khalil Mack, who went on to win the Defensive Player of the Year award last season. The Raiders were a well-rounded young team on the rise, except for in one area.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Raiders were ranked worst in the league in net passing yards allowed per attempt last season. They also gave up the ninth most passing yards to opposing quarterbacks. It was no secret that the Raiders had already been concerned about the secondary.

Future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson retired from the Raiders after the 2015 season and left a hole in the secondary. The Raiders signed veterans Reggie Nelson and Sean Smith during free agency and drafted Karl Joseph with the 14th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, none of these moves panned out last season.

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Smith, after signing a four-year $40 million deal, was dreadful in 2016. He became a liability for the Raiders, rather than a cornerstone of the defense. He has even been demoted to practicing with the second-team defense during training camp this season. Joseph had torn his ACL in his final year at West Virginia and played most of his rookie season not fully healed. Joseph missed the final four games of the regular season with a toe injury as well.

Nelson faired better, securing his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection during his first season in Oakland. However, Nelson isn’t good enough to build a defense around and at 33 years old the Raiders see him as more of a stop-gap than anything else.

After the disappointment of the secondary last season, the Raiders entered this offseason with a new, hopefully more effective strategy. The Raiders signed seven new players this offseason for $14.1 million less than Smith’s contact alone. It should also be noted not a single one of those signings was a defensive back. Clearly, the Raiders believe that free agency is not the way to solve their secondary. Instead, Oakland spent their top two selections in the 2017 NFL Draft on corner Galeon Conley and safety Obi Melifonwu.

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Conley would have likely been the first cornerback off the board if not an April 9 rape accusation that led many teams passing on the talented defensive back. The Raiders saw enough in him that they decided to select him at No. 24, despite the fact his season was in jeopardy and the severe character questions raised about him. However, after a grand jury declined to charge Conley on July 31, Conley is now poised to play a full season. He hasn’t appeared at training camp yet due to shin splints, but when he finally takes the field, many expect to see a star.

The second-round pick, Melifonwu, may have Raiders fans even more excited. Melifonwu is an athletic monster who should have the speed and strength to cover both receivers and tight ends, which is important playing in a division with the likes of Demaryius Thomas and Travis Kelce. Nelson will likely start over Melifonwu for this season, barring a major dropoff from Nelson. However, with time to develop, Melifonwu can be a similar player to Seattle Seahawks star Kam Chancellor.

A lesser-known player how could impact the secondary is undrafted rookie free agent Breon Borders. Borders was signed by the Raiders and many expected him to be cut before the start of the season. Surprising to many, though, Borders has been impressive during camp. So far in training camp, Borders is taking reps with the first team. If his play continues, it is possible Borders starts the season as the slot corner.

These three rookies, combined with the exciting return of Karl Joseph, has set up Oakland’s secondary to take a giant leap forward this season. As Oakland’s only weak point last season, an improved secondary means the Raiders should be considered a strong bet for the Super Bowl.

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