The Las Vegas Raiders' secondary is off to a decent start to the 2024 season. Outside of an abysmal Week 3 performance against the Carolina Panthers, the unit had held its own and put together a fantastic showing in the team's Week 4 victory versus the Cleveland Browns, surrendering just 176 passing yards and picking off Deshaun Watson in the second half.
Second-year cornerback Jakorian Bennett's elevation to being one of the better young corners in the AFC has been a primary reason for Las Vegas' competent play in the secondary.
The 24-year-old isn't widely known around the league but garnered some recognition from Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox, who called Bennett the Raiders' hidden gem.
If you're not a Las Vegas Raiders fan, you probably have no idea who Jakorian Bennett is. If you are a Raiders fan, you've probably been quite impressed with the dramatic turnaround he's had in the early 2024 season.
A 2023 fourth-round pick out of Maryland, Bennett began his rookie campaign as a starter. However, his play was too often inconsistent, and he ceded playing time as the season progressed.
Bennett has appeared in all four games with two starts and has recorded seven tackles and five passes defended. The Raiders probably won't be inclined to pull him off the field often the rest of the way.
Bennett's rookie campaign left much to be desired, but the former Maryland standout has put a rough first year behind him. Bennett has allowed just a 40% completion rate and a 55.1 passer rating when targeted in 135 coverage snaps and is playing with newfound confidence through four games.
With the injuries and recent drama surrounding the Raiders, Bennett's progression from a complete liability in 2023 to a pivotal piece to the defense is a major bright spot. The 2023 fourth-round pick could establish himself as a building block on Patrick Graham's defense if he continues to impress and provide adequate CB2 play opposite Jack Jones.
Bennett and the Raiders will travel to Denver on Sunday to take on the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. The team will look to achieve a winning record through five contests and remain in the Wild Card conversation.
