Raiders: 3 burning questions that remain unanswered after free agency
By Justin Fried
3. How will the cornerback depth chart shape up?
The Raiders were reportedly in hot pursuit of premier free-agent cornerback Byron Jones and even had a massive deal lined up for him. But he ultimately decided to sign with the Miami Dolphins leaving the team without a reasonable alternative.
Instead, the Raiders signed former top draft pick Eli Apple to a meager one-year, $6 million deal with all of it guaranteed. But Apple likely isn’t the solution to the team’s cornerback woes.
So what exactly should we expect the depth chart to look like come September?
Second-year pro Trayvon Mullen should have one of the starting jobs locked down while it’s expected that Lamarcus Joyner will man the slot despite his struggles in that role in his first season with the Raiders.
light. Related Story. Raiders: C.J. Henderson is a very real possibility in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft
Expect Apple to compete for the other starting job, but it’s far from a guarantee.
The Raiders are likely to add another cornerback in the 2020 NFL Draft, perhaps as early as the first round. Florida’s C.J. Henderson remains a very possible option — provided Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah doesn’t suffer a cataclysmic fall.
Apple will probably compete with the rookie for the other outside spot while the likes of Isaiah Johnson, Nick Nelson, Keisean Nixon, and Nevin Lawson compete for depth roles.
It will be a new-look Raiders cornerback group in 2020, but it remains to be seen if it will be an improved unit.