Raiders Training Camp: Is Cornerback Position Being Neglected?

A position on the Las Vegas Raiders roster that’s seeing lots of speculation is cornerback. Is the team’s brain trust neglecting it?

Spare me the “couch GM” talk; it doesn’t take a genius to see that the depth at cornerback for the Raiders is concerning. Sure, head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham want to give their young guys a chance. That’s understandable on a team filled with tons of youth and potential. However, if the organization is serious about competing for a playoff berth, the current group doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

At the time of this publication, the Silver and Black are rather thin at the position. You have Jakorian Bennett, who was exceeding projections and, when healthy, showed serious playmaking ability in 2024. Bouncing back from injury, there are already tons of expectations placed on Bennett. Can he live up to them?

You have rookie Darien Porter, who, despite rave reviews so far, is exactly that, a rookie. Are we expecting too much from the third-round selection? Unless there’s a veteran addition, it’s likely he’ll see many snaps. Eric Stokes, the former Green Bay Packer, heads into his fifth NFL season sporting an average Pro Football Focus grade of 62.4—is he really expected to hold it down on the outside? While he may serve as a useful depth piece, is there a possibility of misplaced confidence on the part of the Raiders coaching staff?

Decamerion Richardson, Sam Webb, and Mello Dotson aren’t household names, and you could argue that’s for a reason. Compplimentary pieces perhaps but there should be more red flags waving if this rounds up your group.

Did the Raiders miss out on Shaquill Griffin?

One way that the Raiders front office could’ve fortified the cornerback corps was to sign Griffin.  If nothing else, it would’ve quelled the concerns from fans for another year. Remember, the Raiders hosted Griffin for a visit this month, but they didn’t finalize a deal.

Had he signed, you could argue that Griffin would’ve been an instant starter. Don’t forget, he’s very familiar with Pete Carroll from their time with the Seattle Seahawks. Instead, Griffin went back to that very team Carroll once called home.

With training camp approaching, it raises questions about whether there are any genuine plans to acquire another experienced NFL cornerback. Thoughts, Raider Nation?