Oakland Raiders: Possible First Round Draft Targets After Free Agency

Quincy Wilson (CB – Florida)

Oakland needs some help in the defensive backfield. Though Sean Smith and David Amerson are capable defenders, they were somewhat – exposed a bit – last year. They gave up a lot of big plays, a lot of years, and a lot of touchdowns.

Much of the problem can be traced back to the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Raiders were dead last in the league in sacks and generated next to nothing pressure-wise. The sort of time opposing quarterbacks had was criminal and contributed to Oakland’s defensive dumpster fire last season.

But it also highlighted the fact that Oakland needs somebody who can man the slot. With the departure of pass interference machine D.J. Hayden, the Raiders have only Travis Carrie manning the slot. And while Carrie has done some great things, he’s also shown a propensity for inconsistency. And let’s not forget that Hayden – and all of his penalty issues – still beat Carrie out for the slot role.

Quincy Wilson could be a good fit with Oakland’s system. We all know that DC Ken Norton likes his corners big and rangy, and at 6’1”, 211 pounds, Wilson fits that model.

He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he’s quick enough to close on the ball and has tremendous athleticism. But he’s solid in coverage, can run with receivers, and has the size to body up on bigger wideouts as well.

His biggest drawback is that he sometimes uses his hands a little too much. Especially when he finds himself in trouble. That is something that would need to be ironed out with him as he makes the transition to the pros. If that problem isn’t nipped in the bud, the Raiders could potentially have another Hayden on their hands.

However, if they can work out those issues, the Raiders could get a solid addition to their secondary and an upgrade in the slot.