The Las Vegas Raiders will have a new-look cornerback room in 2025, as the departures of Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones and the additions of Eric Stokes and Darien Porter were the primary moves that took place within the position group this offseason.
Though one of Stokes and Porter could be capable of being the No.2 boundary corner opposite Jakorian Bennett, it would be wise for Las Vegas to add another defensive back to the roster.
One of the top remaining defenders on the open market is Buffalo Bills free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas, who Pro Football Network’s Brandon Austin predicts will sign with the Raiders after a lengthy stint on the market.
Rasul Douglas is a physical cornerback with the length to contest passes and the toughness to hold his own in run support. This group [Raiders cornerback room] needs a proven veteran to lead the way, and Douglas fits the bill.
Douglas started 15 games for the Bills in 2024, and though he struggled in coverage at times, he was a solid starter for Buffalo and has been pretty durable over the last few years. The West Virginia product has missed three games in the last three years.
Though Douglas wasn’t great last year, he was one of the better corners in football from 2021 to 2023, snagging 14 interceptions in that span and establishing himself as a high-end starter.
The Raiders need all the help they can get in the secondary. Signing Douglas and banking on him returning to the form would be a savvy move from general manager John Spytek, who still has $36 million in cap space to utilize, per Over the Cap.
Spotrac projects Douglas will land a three-year deal worth $35.7 million, which is an average annual salary of $11.9 million. That projection is definitely on the higher end, as a contract worth $7 to $9 million annually is more reasonable based on the 29-year-old’s play in 2024. Nevertheless, Las Vegas should look to pay the price necessary to add a potential starter in Douglas to Patrick Graham’s defense.
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