The Las Vegas Raiders' secondary was off to a decent start to the 2024 campaign but is coming off its worst performance of the year in Week 3 versus the Carolina Panthers, surrendering 319 passing yards and three touchdowns to Andy Dalton.
Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, and Jakorian Bennett are a nice foundation at the position, but Las Vegas still lacks a true CB1 in Patrick Graham's defense.
Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine believes the Raiders could finally acquire an elite cornerback in free agency next offseason by stealing away Charvarius Ward from the San Francisco 49ers.
The Raiders felt fairly confident in Jack Jones after he finished last season on a tear. However, the secondary has been shaky through the first three weeks of the season, and adding talent at cornerback is likely to be a project that continues into 2025.
Charvarius Ward has proved he can get the job done for two different Super Bowl contenders. Making a run at Ward in free agency would be a way to carry less stress about the position next season.
If Las Vegas has the cap space to sign Ward in 2025, it would be a no-brainer for general manager Tom Telesco. The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the better cornerbacks in the league since arriving in San Francisco, posting a 53.4% completion rate allowed and an 82.9 passer rating when targeted since 2022. Ward was also a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro selection last season.
Though Ward has been elite over the last few seasons, he's off to a bit of a rocky start to the 2024 campaign, allowing a 98.2 passer rating when targeted through three games. It's still very early in the year, but the former undrafted free agent's play over the next 14 games is something to monitor.
In the end, the Raiders need a game-changer in the cornerbacks room, and Ward could finally be the difference-maker.
Las Vegas has a plethora of other needs to fill next offseason, including quarterback, so overpaying Ward wouldn't be a wise move. But if Telesco can construct a logical contract for the former Kansas City Chief, it would be a massive splash move to bolster the secondary.
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