Oakland Raiders: A Few Names To Keep, A Few To Dump Ahead Of 2018
By Kevin Saito
Keep: David Amerson
If the Raiders do what’s expected, and part ways with Sean Smith, they’re going to have to plug (another) hole in their secondary. Gareon Conley should be healed up and back on the field next season (hoepfully). But, if the team jettisons Smith, they’re going to need experienced cornerbacks.
And sorry, Dexter McDonald and Antonio Hamilton are most definitely not the answers to Oakland’s woes in the defensive backfield. It would almost be preferable that they keep Smith over both of those two.
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It would behoove the Raiders to snap up a cornerback early in the draft – somebody who can pair with Conley and, hopefully, become a formidable one-two punch in Oakland’s secondary. Ohio State corner Denzel Ward seems to be getting some hype lately, and could fit in well alongside Conley – eventually.
However, they really can’t afford to turn the reins over completely to a rookie and a second-year man who missed virtually, his entire rookie season. That would be an exercise in lunacy.
Given their need for experienced help on the corners, it makes sense for the team to hang on to David Amerson. Money-wise, Amerson is set to make $6 million in 2018 – with no dead cap money should they choose to cut him.
But, given his experience and familiarity with Pagano already, that could end up being something of a bargain if he can return to his 2015 form.
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of talent set to hit the open market this offseason. Good cornerbacks may be very hard to come by. Hanging on to Amerson might be the wisest course of action.