Breaking: Raiders Closing In On Deal To Sign $14 Million 8-Time Pro Bowl CB As Free Agent

The Las Vegas Raiders selected cornerback Decamerion Richardson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he is unlikely to be a starter as a rookie. The team still needs a starter cornerback, and there are some enticing choices in free agency.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson may be a cost-effective choice. Tashan Reed of The Athletic said the eight-time Pro Bowler would be a good match for the Raiders.

“Peterson will be 34 this season, but he has played every game the last two seasons and started 16 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year,” said Reed in a May 1 editorial. “He made 42 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and two interceptions while playing outside cornerback, nickelback, and safety. If the Raiders believe he has something left in the tank, signing Peterson makes sense.

Peterson is one of the best cornerbacks of his generation but he’s getting up there in age. Despite that, he’s still playing at a reasonably high level. As a one-year rental, he’d make a lot of sense for the Raiders. He’s a proven veteran who has played at the highest level. He’d be a great mentor for a very young secondary and shouldn’t have the problems that Marcus Peters did with tackling last season.

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Decamerion Richardson Is Intriguing Prospect

Many mock drafts projected the Raiders to use their first-round pick on a cornerback. The team did not address the position in free agency, but the way the board fell led them to take tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th choice.

There was also a strong competition for cornerbacks before the Raiders chose in the second round, which prompted them to take offensive tackle Jackson Powers-Johnson. The team did not address the need until drafting Robinson in the fourth round.

He is an exciting player. He stands 6-foot-2 and runs a 4.34 40-yard dash, which is impressive for a cornerback. He’s also an excellent tackler, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez.

Gutierrez noted on April 27 that despite never intercepting a ball, he led Mississippi State with 7 pass breakups previous season. “He’s also not afraid to stick his nose in the scrum as he had a combined 164 tackles the last two seasons.”

Robinson is unlikely to start this season, but he has the potential to be a key player in the future.

Can M.J. Devonshire Make the Roster?

The Raiders selected M.J. Devonshire of Pittsburgh in the seventh round as their second cornerback in the draft. He is not as athletic as Robinson, but Gutierrez highlighted his physicality.

“[Devonshire] is more a physical defender who does not shy away from bump-and-run coverage than a speedy DB, though he did run a 4.45 40,” Gutierrez stated in an email. “The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Devonshire led Pitt with four interceptions last season, including a pick-six, and had 10 PBUs in 12 games with nine starts.”

Head coach Antonio Pierce loves physical players so Devonshire could have a path to making the roster. It’s always difficult for seventh-round picks to make the team but the Raiders’ need at cornerback will create some opportunity. Devonshire was a key player for a major program so perhaps he could have some juice at the NFL level.