With Gus Bradley off to Indianapolis to be the defensive coordinator of the Colts, it’s fair to wonder if Casey Hayward Jr. will be back with the Raiders. If that’s the case, the Raiders will be back in the cornerback market again this offseason.
While the Raiders could use some draft picks to shore up the cornerback spot, free agency seems like a better route as they need players who can contribute right away. But who might the Raiders be interested in if they do test the free-agent waters?
In a recent article by Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, he projected where the top free agents will land this offseason. He wrote that Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson would be a perfect fit with the Raiders. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on the potential landing spot:
“He can go find his money elsewhere while staying in a similar system if he were to go to Las Vegas. Further, newly hired head coach Josh McDaniels already pulled former Pats assistant and Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham with him.
The Raiders’ defensive philosophy and scheme are likely to look similar to the one Jackson flourished in in New England, and they have around $14 million more to spend than the Pats.”
Jackson is going to be one of the highest-paid players in free agency, but he is well worth it. Over the last three seasons, he’s recorded 22 interceptions and 47 pass deflections. He’s been one of the league’s best cornerbacks and he is only 26 years old.
The connection with the Patriots and Josh McDaniels does make it seem like Jackson could be a target. However, the Raiders need to be prepared to offer close to $20 million per season for Jackson. Still, that might be worth it considering how good he’s been over the last few seasons.
Don’t be surprised if the Raiders have heavy interest in Jackson if he hits the open market.
