Oakland Raiders: Five Players Who Have The Most To Prove In 2015
By Kevin Saito
Jul 30, 2013; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) stretches at training camp at Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aside from Trent Richardson, Hayden may be the one player on the roster with the most to prove in 2015. To say that Hayden has, to this point, fallen well short of expectations would be a massive understatement.
However, those expectations aren’t entirely fair either. Given the fact that he was coming off of surgery for a life threatening injury, McKenzie should never have used a first round pick on him. Being picked so high set up unfair expectations of Hayden. And of course, subsequent injuries that have limited his playing time have only bolstered that perception.
After missing the first half of the 2014 season with yet another injury, Hayden came back and played fairly well over the course of the second half of the season. He accumulated 42 tackles, defensed ten passes, and had an interception. Over those eight games, Hayden showed brief flashes of how good he can be and why McKenzie took him so high. Of course, he also showed some maddening inconsistency and a penchant for getting burned deep.
Hayden says he’s healthy and ready to go to work this season. But everybody is currently holding their breath. He proclaimed himself healthy last season too, and then got injured and missed half the year. So with Hayden at the moment, it’s a wait and see type deal.
This is absolutely a make or break year for Hayden. He must prove that he can stay healthy and stay on the field. He must also prove that he has what it takes to be the top tier cornerback that McKenzie believed him to be when he made him a first round pick.
Given the state of Oakland’s secondary and McKenzie’s faith in his young cornerbacks, there is a lot riding on this season for both the team and for Hayden personally. He has the talent, he just needs to put it all together this year. Because if he can’t prove that he can be Oakland’s long term answer at corner this season, like a few others currently on the roster, it may be his final season in Silver and Black.