With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ cornerback position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Starters: Trayvon Mullen, Damon Arnette, Lamarcus Joyner
Backups: Keisean Nixon, Isaiah Johnson, Amik Robertson, Kemah Siverand
Free agents: Nevin Lawson, Daryl Worley
Mullen was easily the Raiders’ best defensive back last season. So easily, in fact, that after him, there is a significant dropoff. His 14 pass breakups were more than twice that of any other defensive back on the team. And his two interceptions were tied for second on the team.
Arnette was the team’s pick at 19th overall in the 2020 draft. He was handed the starting job out of training camp, with the team releasing Prince Amukamara. It was a rough rookie season for Arnette, to say the least.
He was recovering from a broken thumb in the opener and then injured his wrist in Week 3, knocking him out for seven weeks. Then a few weeks later, he tested positive for COVID-19, costing him another couple of games. And he was regularly burned in the games he did play.
Joyner again started at the nickel corner spot. The best you can say for him is he wasn’t as bad as he was the previous season.
Lawson was the team’s dime back and next man up when a starter went out. And with Arnette missing as much time as he did, Lawson ended up starting nine games, with less-than-stellar play.
Nixon and Johnson each had their moments but have not yet proven they are capable of full-time jobs. Rookie fourth-round pick Amik Robertson was drafted to be depth in the slot and then was inactive half the season and barely saw the field the other half.
Condition: Unstable
With Mullen playing well and Arnette being a first-round pick, both are slated to start. Joyner’s contract is steep, making him a strong candidate to be released. Should they indeed cut Joyner, they would be looking at adding a nickel corner, as well as adding some competition for Arnette and depth to round out the group. That means the team could add a couple of corners this offseason, at least one of which being a proven capable starter.
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