The Raiders have done a fantastic job of addressing needs so far in free agency, grabbing quality starters such as Cory Littleton, Maliek Collins and Nick Kwiatkoski. That doesn’t even include some of their other signings such as Carl Nassib, Jason Witten and Jeff Heath.
However, the one spot the team could still address in free agency is cornerback. Daryl Worley is a free agent and Trayvon Mullen is the only capable starter on the roster.
But luckily for the Raiders, there are still several quality cornerbacks on the market. Here are three available cornerbacks the team could target over the next few days to address their secondary needs.
1. Chris Harris Jr.
If the Raiders want to add a proven cornerback with skins on the wall, look no further than Chris Harris Jr. Over the last decade, he’s dominated the AFC West, grabbing 20 interceptions since 2011.
While Harris is past his prime, he is still among the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He can still play in the slot and outside, but shouldn’t cost more than $10 million per season. Harris would be a fantastic fit in Paul Guenther’s defense and is arguably the best cornerback left on the market. Expect the Raiders to show interest in Harris if he wants to leave the Broncos.
2. Jimmy Smith
Another older cornerback option for the Raiders could be Jimmy Smith, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. When healthy, Smith is one of the best man-to-man cornerbacks in the NFL. But health has been a problem as he hasn’t played more than 12 games since 2015.
Smith might be the type of player willing to take a one or two-year prove-it deal in order to hit the free-agent market once again. With the Raiders likely throwing more draft picks at the position in the draft, Smith would be a more-than-adequate stop-gap for the Raiders this offseason. Keep an eye on where Smith lands this offseason as he could one of the best values left on the market.
3. Xavier Rhodes
If the Raiders really want to swing for the fences, look no further than former All-Pro cornerback Xavier Rhodes. Despite making the Pro Bowl in 2019, Rhodes wore out his welcome in Minnesota but is still one of the most physically talented cornerbacks in the NFL.
If Paul Guenther believes he can work his magic here, it may be worth taking a shot on Rhodes given the massive upside. In a different situation, Rhodes could still be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. This may be a gamble worth taking for the Raiders as they search for more help in the secondary.
