Oakland Raiders: A few possible FA targets for the frugal-minded
By Kevin Saito
With the Rams locking up Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters with a couple of trades that shook the NFL world – and then adding Sam Shields to the mix – Los Angeles is likely going to be shedding some secondary help.
With Trumaine Johnson expected to be pursued by a few teams, Nickell Robey-Coleman might be the next one out the door.
At five-foot-eight, 178 pounds, Robey-Coleman isn’t the biggest cornerback out there. He’s going to be giving up inches to a number of receivers around the league. But, he also has 4.4 speed and is unafraid to mix it up in run support.
As a slot corner, Robey-Coleman makes a lot of sense.
Since being signed as a UDFA by Buffalo back in 2013, Robey-Coleman has missed just one game due to injury. He’s appeared in 79 of 80 possible career games, making 19 starts and amassing 206 tackles (169 solo), five sacks, five interceptions – two of those returned for touchdowns – three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and 38 passes defensed.
Quick, tough, and tenacious, Robey-Coleman has sharp instincts and reads opposing quarterbacks very well. The knock on him has always been his size.
But, in a division with the likes of Kansas City – who just added Sammy Watkins alongside Tyreek Hill – the Raiders will need a fast, shifty, and quick twitch cornerback to keep up with them. Let’s also not forget the Patriots sitting on Brandin Cooks.
Oakland’s corners have had a lot of trouble with smaller, faster, shiftier receivers, and Robey-Coleman could help them in that department.
And given that he played for less than a million last year, even with a bit of a raise, he’s not going to break the bank.
(ETA: Since this writing, Robey-Coleman has agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $15.75 million — with $8 million in guaranteed money — to stay with the Rams. So, if you had him on your wish list, go ahead and strike him off)