Friday saw the league’s top pending free agent safety kept off the market. Broncos free safety Justin Simmons is being slapped with the franchise tag for the second year in a row. The Raiders were interested in Simmons last year before he was tagged, so it stands to reason they were still interested this time around.
Regardless, the Raiders will have to look elsewhere for a free safety. And, from the sounds of it, that’s just what they intend to do.
“We’ve obviously looked at every position and free safety is an interesting one,” GM Mike Mayock said Wednesday over video conference call. “In [defensive coordinator] Gus Bradley’s system, it’s a little bit different in that you typically are looking at a true free safety and a true strong safety. Abram could probably be considered more of that strong safety and free
safety, we’re going to have to answer some questions. We have Jeff Heath. Erik Harris is a free agent. We have some guys that have played some football for us, but whether it’s a draft or free agency, that’s a position we have to be very aware of and we are.”
Heath makes for good depth and can start if necessary, but it’s fairly clear the Raiders intend on bringing in some help, potentially to insert as a starter.
There are a few good options besides Simmons headed for the market. I denoted a few who makes sense for the Raiders here.
Should they find they are unable to reel in one of the top free-agent safeties, or are unable to afford one, they would then have to turn their focus to the draft, where their first pick is at No. 17 overall.
