The Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of organized team activities and we already have an idea of who the team is eyeing to start at cornerback opposite Jack Jones. Neither of the two options instill much confidence, though.
According to The Athletic's Tashan Reed, Jakorian Bennett and Brandon Facyson are "leading the battle at cornerback" early on, with both seeing reps with the first-team defense at practice.
The problem is that Bennett had a terrible rookie campaign and Facyson is really a backup. The Raiders drafted a pair of cornerbacks in Decamerion Richardson and M.J. Devonshire, but it remains to be seen if either will be ready to take on a significant role in their first seasons.
Knowing all that, Bleacher Report's Matt Holder believes the Raiders should sign one of two veteran cornerbacks, Steven Nelson or Stephon Gilmore. Here's what Holder had to say about that:
The Athletic's Tashan Reed reported that Las Vegas began OTAs with Brandon Facyson and Jakorian Bennett getting the first-team reps at cornerback. Facyson missed the majority of last season with an injury, and Bennett began the year as a starter but played his way onto the bench.
Granted, those two were are expected to battle it out for the other starting spot opposite of Jack Jones, who sat out of practice this week with an injury, per Reed. But Jones also lacks starting experience, giving the Raiders a need for a proven No. 1 corner and Nelson or Gilmore would be the front office's best options at this stage in the game
Both Nelson and Gilmore would provide an upgrade over Bennett and Facyson, and both have experience playing in zone coverage, which is a good fit in defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's defense.
MORE: Takeaways from Raiders OTAs
Financially, the Raiders have the cap space to make it work, also. Neither would be expensive to begin with, but the Raiders have $13 million to work with and will add another $24 million on top of that after June 1, when Jimmy Garoppolo's money comes off the books. Both will likely command a one-year deal.
If the Raiders are truly serious about wanting to compete in a conference loaded with good quarterbacks, two of which are in their division, they need a better option opposite Jones than the ones they have now.
Either Gilmore or Nelson would qualify as such.
