Oakland Raiders: Though a massive upgrade, team shouldn’t deal for Peters

The Oakland Raiders have a dire need at cornerback they must address – even still, the team should not deal for Marcus Peters.

To say the Oakland Raiders have had one of the league’s worst pass defenses the last few seasons would be putting things kindly. A more accurate description of their pass defense might be, a three-alarm dumpster fire in a fireworks factory.

After scraping him off the scrap heap after Washington jettisoned him in 2015, the Raiders brought in David Amerson – and he performed pretty brilliantly. Well enough that the team felt comfortable they had one side of the field locked down and lavished a big dollar contract upon him the following season.

The team thought they had the other side of the field secured when they were able to lure Sean Smith, who’d been thought of as one of the better corners in the league, to the East Bay with a four-year, $38 million dollar contract.

Suffice it to say that although former DC Ken Norton‘s schemes have played a big part in Oakland’s dumpster-fire defense, neither Amerson, nor Smith have come close to living up to the paychecks they’ve been cashing.

Amerson was the first to pay the price when Oakland kicked him to the curb recently. Although, he has since, landed on his feet in Kansas City – a development that may have an impact the point of this article.

Smith can’t be – or at least, he shouldn’t be – that far behind, given his $8.25 million dollar cap hit, his poor overall performance over the last two seasons, and some pending legal issues that are very serious.

T.J. Carrie is set to test the waters of free agency, and though he says he’d like to return to Oakland, there isn’t a strong sense yet that the team is inclined to bring him back. Carrie’s supporters will argue that he was the best corner on the team last season. True. But, it’s also fair to point out that it was a very, very low bar to clear to begin with.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

If they do end up cutting Smith (they should) and let Carrie walk (it’s a toss up), it will leave Gareon Conley (who has some significant red flags of his own), and Dexter McDonald (no – just no) as the team’s only viable options on the corners.

Which means, the Raiders will be looking to rebuild their secondary. Again.

Though they will undoubtedly be looking to pick up some young talent via the Draft to pair with Conley, the team will likely also be dipping into the free agent market to supplement the secondary this year.

One name that’s recently popped up and has fans frothing at the mouth is Chief’s corner Marcus Peters.

Though still under contract with Kansas City, the addition of Amerson and Kendall Fuller – one component of the Alex Smith trade – has made some believe the Chiefs are putting Peters up on the auction block.

Recently, some reports of the Chiefs growing tired of Peters’ act in Kansas City and is ready – maybe even eager – to move on from him.

If those reports are true, the question then becomes – what will it take to convince the Chiefs to part with him?

Related Story: Predicting the Next Pieces to Fall in Offseason of Change

There’s no question that Peters is a top shelf corner in this league. Peters has 19 interecptions over his three seasons in the league – and no season with fewer than five. He has two interecptions returned for touchdowns, 151 tackles (131 solo), five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries – one for a touchdown – and 55 passes defensed.

At six-feet, a tick under 200 pounds, and with speed to burn, he’s everything the Raiders could possibly want in a corner. He would be a significant upgrade, and would very likely thrive in new DC Paul Guenther’s defensive system – Guenther’s Bengals squads usually ranked near the top of the league in interceptions.

More from Las Vegas Raiders News

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• Raiders: Bryan Edwards out, Henry Ruggs doubtful for Sunday
• Raiders: Damon Arnette re-injures thumb, could be headed to IR
• Raiders fall short in letdown Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots
• Raiders: Game breakdown and prediction for Week 3 at New England Patriots

With that kind of a resume, and the likelihood that he’d do very well in Guenther’s defense, it’s no wonder fans are foaming at the mouths to get him fitted for a Silver and Black jersey. And with all of that going for him, why should the Raiders hesitate to pull the trigger on a deal that could land them a top shelf talent like Peters?

Simply put, the Raiders shouldn’t pull the trigger on a trade because of Peters’ contract.

Peters is an unrestricted free agent following the 2018 season. Which means, if the Raiders can’t work out a longer term deal with him between now and then, GM Reggie McKenzie will have given up some valuable draft picks for a one-year rental player.

And there is no guarantee that if a trade actually did materialize, Peters would do a long-term deal with Oakland.

Given Peters’ accomplishments on the field, the Chiefs aren’t likely going to let him go for just a song and a dance. It’s likely going to take some high draft picks – picks, likely plural.

Next: Making The Case For One Castoff QB Over Another

Giving up – very possibly – multiple picks in exchange for a guy who may, or may not, be with the team a year from now borders on the insane. Especially, when there are so many holes on this roster that desperately need to be filled.

With some solid talent set to hit the open market, the Raiders should focus their attention there. Guys like Justin Bethel or Ross Cockrell. Maybe a Davon House or Malcolm Butler. Guys they can get under contract for multiple years, may not have to break the bank for – except for Butler, likely – and not have to give up high draft picks to acquire.

Having a talent like Peters on the field for Oakland would be a tremendous get. There’s no question about it. He would be a massive upgrade and could help lift up this defense as a whole.

But, with so many holes on this roster that need to be filled, the team needs to be smart in how they go about addressing those holes and constructing the roster.

Put another way, despite the overwhelming talent of Marcus Peters, the Raiders can’t afford to give up so much for a guy who could turn out to be a one-year rental.