Raiders roster 2024: The fight for No. 2 cornerback role

Absent a veteran signing this offseason, youth likely to be served at outside spot

Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs are the penciled in starters at one outside cornerback spot and the nickel/slot role for the Las Vegas Raiders. But what about the other perimeter position?

That’s a key question for the Silver & Black this offseason.

Jones and Hobbs are considered favorites to start in large part due to their production from this past season, but also the energy and mentality both bring to the position group. Jones, a 26-year-old flier waiver claim from the New England Patriots, validated head coach Antonio Pierce’s belief in him by starting three games (seven games played) and intercepting two passes — both for pick sixes. Hobbs, a 24-year-old 2021 NFL Draft fifth-round pick, has taken command of slot/nickel duties with his physicality as a tackler and stickiness in coverage.

That leaves nine others in the Raiders’ cornerback room vying for the start on the other boundary opposite Jones or snaps this coming season.

Cornerbacks at a glance:

• Starters (predicted): Jack Jones (26 years old), Nate Hobbs (24)
• Veterans (more than 3 years in the league): Brandon Facyson (29); Cornell Armstrong (28)
• Draft picks (2023/2024): Jakorian Bennett (23); Decamerion Richardson (23); M.J. Devonshire (23)
• Undrafted free agents (2022/2024): Sam Webb (27); Ja’Quan Sheppard (24); Rayshad Williams (24); Woo Governor (23)

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Just like last season, Facyson enters the 2024 campaign as the elder statesman of the cornerback room. The 29-year-old brings a bevy of experience and is a player general manager Tom Telesco is quite familiar with, too, as the defender entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 — when Telesco was the Bolts GM. Facyson did have a strong season with the Raiders in 2021 but has dropped off since then. The previous regime did keep the Virginia Tech product on the roster this past season despite missing most of it due to injury.

Facyson excels is zone defenses where he can use his size and length and with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham deploying more zone while mixing in man coverage here and there, the veteran is likely to get his shot to win a gig or snaps — health dependent.

But outside Facyson, or the Raiders inking another veteran cornerback at some point this offseason, expect youth to be served in the secondary. Seven of the 11 corners are 24 years old or younger.

Second-year player Jakorian Bennett, 2024 fourth-round pick Decamerion Richardson and seventh-round selection M.J. Devonshire bolster Las Vegas’ cornerback room with athleticism and youth. Each bring quality speed with them to the desert with Bennett having the fastest time speed with a 4.30-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine last year. Richardson was a tick slower at 4.34 at this year’s combine and Devonshire clocked in at 4.45. Speed is a key trait for the Raiders’ secondary this season as the group will cover home run-type speed two division rivals added in the draft: The Kansas City Chiefs took wide receiver Xavier Worthy (4.21 speed) in round one; the Chargers snagged wide out Ladd McConkey (4.39) in the second round.

Where Richardson stands out amongst that group of draft picks is his size at 6-foot-2. He’s a taller defender who has speed and he was a willing tackler at Mississippi State. Devonshire, meanwhile, is a fiery press-type defender who is sticky, aggressive, and turns to find the ball. While some may pigeon hole him as as slot defender in the NFL due to his size at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, Graham showed he has no qualms deploying “smaller” cornerbacks on the perimeter.

While Richardson provides intriguing size and speed — a throwback to Raiders corners of year’s past — Graham noted the fourth-round pick brings the proper mentality but the road is long for the rookie.

“Like most rookies, has a lot to learn, but he is long, and he is fast and he’s willing to work. So those three things right there, I’m good. Those are positive. So, when you’re long, fast and you’re willing to work, I mean it’s something to work with, but he has a long road ahead of him as a rookie. He just doesn’t know yet, that’s the only thing.”

Bennett impressed the Raiders coaching staff enough last offseason to earn the starting nod at outside corner before losing reps. Losing confidence can be a dangerous thing for any cornerback — rookie or veteran — but this offseason provides a new opportunity for Bennett to show he’s grown and learned from his initial season in the NFL. Graham was asked specifically about Bennett during the defensive boss’ media availability this past Tuesday.

“Part of it is just getting the reps. You’ve got to see it. You have these dreams of being in the NFL, you played high school ball, played college ball, you get here and you just realize this is a different game, it just is,” Graham said on Bennett’s growth and how it’s applied to where the corner is now. “I mean, there’s still tackling, blocking, all that stuff right there, but it’s a different game, and seeing the route combinations, understanding that they’re going to try to isolate you for the run game with crack replace situations.

“So, what I’ve seen is the film study. I’ve seen him ask the right questions. I’ve seen him narrow down what his focus is by stage. So, phase one, phase two, phase three, and being able to really zero in on that so he can improve his craft and then leading in the training camp.”

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Graham harkened on something valuable for any of the 11 cornerbacks on the Raiders roster: Reps and film study. That’s the root of improvement in the NFL and it’s something that elite defenders Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins, amongst others, do consistently.

While Webb, Sheppard, Williams, and Governor were undrafted types, that doesn’t mean they can’t impress Las Vegas coaches and earn a roster spot. Facyson is an example of an UDFA that’s carved out an NFL career amongst a slew of others. And the interesting aspect Webb, Sheppard, and Williams brings — like Facyson — is height and length as each are 6-foot-2. That’s a departure from last season where the Raiders tallest corner was Facyson.

The number of 11 will undoubtedly dwindle during the NFL-mandated cut down day as team rosters now are at 90. Thus, it’s ample and opportune time for other cornerbacks to show they deserve starts/snaps — even perhaps above both Jones and Hobbs, as they Raiders are keen on competition and earning spots.