Raiders Legend Was 'Heartbroken' Following Nate Hobbs’ Exit

Many Las Vegas Raiders fans probably share former All-Pro Lincoln Kennedy’s opinion that the loss of Nate Hobbs was a setback this offseason.

Upon the arrival of Pete Carroll and John Spytek in Sin City, it was widely anticipated that significant changes would occur. Coming off a disastrous season with just a few wins, everyone should’ve been on the chopping block. We should’ve seen everyone as expendable, except for a handful of defensive players like Maxx Crosby and Jakorian Bennett. Among the “expendables” was Hobbs.

Clearly, the concerns surrounding Hobbs might’ve had to do with the lack of availability. In fact, Hobbs has technically never played a full 17-game season in the NFL—he played in just 11 matchups last year. You could argue that when healthy, Hobbs was among the most consistent nickel corners. That being said, the Raiders opted not to make a long-term financial commitment. Kennedy made it known this week that he was among those who were disappointed with that decision.

Did the Raiders commit a mistake with Nate Hobbs?

While appearing on the “Locked On Raiders Podcast,” Kennedy shed light on his personal opinion regarding what went down with Hobbs.

“I was heartbroken when we lost Nate Hobbs. I absolutely thought he was one of the best nickel corners in the league,” Kennedy said. “Playing that position, with that amount of space in the center part of the field and being effective in the run game as well as the pass game, I thought he was an All-Star to come.”

Whether Hobbs will become an All-Pro or even a Pro Bowler is still uncertain. As previously mentioned, when Hobbs was healthy, his potential was evident on screen. His Pro Football Focus grades from last season were encouraging, particularly his 62.1 run defense grade.

Instead of offering a substantial contract, the Raiders seem to trust that Carroll’s coaching will compensate for Hobbs’ departure. We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out.