Oakland Raiders: What’s Karl Joseph’s prospective role heading into 2019

How can the Oakland Raiders optimize Karl Joseph’s skill set this year? Is he a starter or a backup safety for the 2019 season?

The Oakland Raiders declined to exercise Karl Joseph’s fifth-year option, and the decision creates some urgency for the three-year safety. He’ll head into a contract year — performance will dictate his market value in the 2020 offseason.

Head coach Jon Gruden downplayed the decision to extend Joseph’s contract for an extra term when reporters asked about the situation during a media press conference:

"It’s a big story for some people, but that does not mean that we do not want Karl with us and in the future. All that means is that we didn’t exercise the fifth-year option. If you really study the fifth-year option and what it entails, it entails a lot. It does not mean, by any means, that we do not want Karl Joseph as a captain or as a leader on this team, now or in the future."

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He’s right. It’s not a guarantee that Joseph will suit up elsewhere next year. However, we cannot forget the Raiders put him on the trade block before last year’s deadline, per FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer.

If you’re counting, that’s two instances Gruden and company tried to or actively shortened Joseph’s time with the club. One year can change plans, but the Raiders should try their best to optimize his talent while he’s still wearing silver and black.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Joseph lined up in the box for 232 snaps and as a free safety for 195 snaps; his role should focus on the latter in the upcoming campaign.

Team brass selected Johnathan Abram with the 27th overall pick. At his best, he’s a sideline-to-sideline defender, who adds pop to the run defense with potential short-area coverage ability. Assuming he opens the season as a starter, the Mississippi State product will likely thump in the box on the strong side, which would lessen Joseph’s time in the area.

Perhaps defensive coordinator Paul Guenther takes a longer look at Joseph in deep coverage. Although he’s listed as a free safety, Lamarcus Joyner will play the nickelback position. The versatile defensive back talked about his fit in the role with Kyle Martin of the team’s official website:

"I love the nickel back position. It’s a natural, instinctual position for me. I get to do a lot of things. I’m great at tackling. I’m great at beating guys to the point. I’m great at covering. There’s a lot the nickel has tied up into its identity as a role that fits me, so I’m very excited."

The question remains, who’s going to provide much-needed range in the secondary? Oakland needs someone on the back end capable of forcing turnovers. Is it Erik Harris, Curtis Riley or Joseph?

Joseph had a slow start going into the 2018 campaign. He played sparingly through the first two months and didn’t open with the first unit until Week 10. It’s also worth mentioning Marcus Gilchrist was the only safety to play more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps last year.

Without Gilchrist on the roster, the Raiders could have an open competition next to Abram at safety, though, Joseph should win the starting job. If that’s the case, the coaching staff should keep him in centerfield.

Before Joseph tore his ACL during his senior term at West Virginia, the former Mountaineer logged five interceptions. Three of those picks came against Georgia Southern, but he’s absolutely capable of forcing turnovers with coverage responsibilities.

Expect Guenther to use Harris and Riley in splashes. The decision to showcase Joseph’s range would bode well for him going into free agency and potentially unlock an underutilized skill set.