You can make a strong case that there hasn’t been a better free-agent signing from this offseason than Casey Hayward. All he has done since arriving with the Raiders is be arguably their best defensive player and shut down opposing receivers.
In fact, you can make a case that he’s been the league’s best cornerback through the first four games of the season.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they named their All-Pro team after four games. Hayward was on the list as the site’s top cornerback with the No. 2 cornerback being Nate Hobbs. Here is what they had to say about the veteran defensive back:
“Hayward has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL over his career spanning most of the past decade. In 2020, at the age of 31, he had the worst season of his NFL tenure with a PFF grade in the 50s, more than 10 grading points lower than any of his other campaigns. It made sense to assume that Hayward had just reached the age where decline sets in, but so far in 2021, he is proving that assumption wrong.
Hayward has broken up two passes while allowing just 39 yards across four games. Passes thrown into his coverage have generated only a 46.6 passer rating, making him a huge driving force behind the Raiders’ improved defense.”
With the Raiders losing two cornerbacks last week due to injuries, they are going to need Hayward more than ever. He’s going to have some tough matchups over the next weeks and will be at a significant size disadvantage.
However, if there is one thing we know about Hayward, it’s that’s never been an issue in the past. Look for him to continue to play at an elite level in Gus Bradley’s defense.
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