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Oakland Raiders: 5 veterans in danger of being cut this summer

By Justin Fried

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Wide receiver Ryan Grant #11 of the Indianapolis Colts makes a touchdown-catch off a 5-yard pass from quarterback Andrew Luck #12 (not pictured) against cornerback Ronald Darby #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Wide receiver Ryan Grant #11 of the Indianapolis Colts makes a touchdown-catch off a 5-yard pass from quarterback Andrew Luck #12 (not pictured) against cornerback Ronald Darby #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Oakland Raiders
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 09: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch while being defended by Nevin Lawson #24 of the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium on December 9, 2018, in Glendale, Arizona. It was Fitzgerald’s 1,282nd catch with the Cardinals which sets a record for the most catches all-time by a player with one team. Oakland Raiders (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

2. Nevin Lawson, CB

The Raiders signed former Detroit Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson to bolster a defensive back core that struggled mightily in 2018. Oakland’s defense ranked in the bottom half in passing yards allowed and gave up the most passing touchdowns with a whopping 36 over 16 games.

So on the surface, the signing made some sense.

Lawson has been a starter for the better part of the last four seasons with Detroit, but his play there ranged from ‘up-and-down’ to just plain ‘down.’ Pro Football Focus gave Lawson just a 60.6 grade last season which ranked him at the No. 91 cornerback in the NFL.

On top of that, the 28-year-old is yet to record an interception in his five-year, 62-game career. Now, interceptions aren’t the best gauge of a cornerback’s performance, but it’s concerning nonetheless.

Related Story. What will the Oakland Raiders secondary look like in 2019?. light

The two starting outside corners for the Raiders are expected to be Gareon Conley and Daryl Worley, but the competition behind them is as steep as it’s been in a while.

Rookies Trayvon Mullen and Isaiah Johnson are essentially guaranteed roster spots while last year’s fourth-round pick Nick Nelson should be very much in the mix as well. Throw in expected nickel corner/safety hybrid Lamarcus Joyner and you have a crowded cornerback room.

And Lawson might just be the odd man out. Sometimes youth and upside trump lackluster starting experience and that might very well be the case with Lawson this preseason.

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