Prioritizing The Oakland Raiders’ Free Agency Wish List By Need
By Kevin Saito
With Karl Joseph and Reggie Nelson in the defensive backfield, the Raiders are in fairly decent shape. Joseph had a very solid rookie outing, and looks to be solid in that position for some time to come. And Nelson had a pretty decent season with five picks – with a couple to seal a win.
But there were plenty of times Nelson looked out of place and out of sorts. Whether that was a product of the system and his relative unfamiliarity with it, or a product of him being 33 and a step slower, we don’t really know.
But the Raiders could roll into 2017 with Joseph and Nelson manning the safety spots and be – okay.
However, if they were to go out and nab somebody like Tony Jefferson, they would go from being “okay” to being pretty darn spectacular.
Not only is Jefferson significantly younger, he is also a more dynamic player. And paired with Joseph, the Raiders would have two of the hardest hitting safeties in football. They’d have a defensive backfield that would put the fear of God into opposing receiving groups – which could provide a distinct psychological edge.
The question of whether Jefferson winds up in Silver and Black in 2017 is going to come down to money. Of course.
Some have suggested that Jefferson is looking for something in the $7 million a year range – which, if they were to cut Nelson, they would be able to swing pretty comfortably.
But safety help isn’t Oakland’s most dire need this offseason. Which probably means upgrading the spot isn’t high on McKenzie’s radar. But having a Joseph/Jefferson tandem in the defensive backfield would be sweet indeed.