One free-agent signing Las Vegas Raiders should make before Week 1

Mike Moraitis

One free-agent signing Las Vegas Raiders should make before Week 1 image

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders have a shaky situation in their secondary, but there's one free agent available who could help.

Las Vegas' concerns at cornerback are well-documented. Disappointing former first-round pick Eric Stokes is set to start at one boundary spot, and Darnay Holmes, who has also been a disappointment during his career, is expected to take the slot.

At the other boundary spot, the Raiders have yet to make a decision between three competitors, rookie Darien Porter, veteran Kyu Blu Kelly and sophomore corner Decamerion Richardson.

Head coach Pete Carroll admitted as much after he said the team would rotate "a number of guys" there Week 1. That suggests nobody has been good enough to completely seize the role coming out of the offseason.

With all the concerns at cornerback, the Raiders should consider signing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, who could provide a significant boost without playing the position.

Peppers, who was surprisingly released by the New England Patriots last week and already has experience in Patrick Graham's system from their days together with the New York Giants, would bolster Las Vegas' safeties room.

But more importantly, his presence would allow the Raiders to deploy Jeremy Chinn in the slot instead of Holmes, who is historically worse in coverage than Chinn.

Peppers would also provide an upgrade in general at safety, where he offers a better coverage option than both Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao. He also brings versatility thanks to his experience operating in the box and back deep.

In a loaded AFC West and conference that has so many good quarterbacks, the Raiders can't afford to go into the season with the uncertainty in the secondary.

Signing Peppers would be a great avenue to take to help shore things up.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.