It’s no secret that the Raiders are going to be in the cornerback market this offseason. But how do they go about finding the right outside cornerback for Patrick Graham’s defense? That is the biggest question.
The expectation is that they will use free agency and the NFL Draft to fill that need. However, could they potentially explore the trade market for a cornerback? There are a few intriguing options available.
One potential option is James Braddbery of the New York Giants. During the NFL Combine, there were plenty of rumors swirling that the Giants have made Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley and Bradberry available via trade.
In a recent article by Bill Barnwell of ESPN, he noted that the Raiders appear to be a likely fit for Bradberry via a trade. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on that potential transaction:
“The Raiders found a useful slot corner in rookie fifth-round pick Nate Hobbs, but Hayward was a one-year fill-in and Trayvon Mullen missed most of 2021 with injuries. I wonder if new coordinator Patrick Graham might try to convince his new organization to trade for James Bradberry, who could be traded by the Giants.”
Considering the Giants will likely have to release Bradberry if they can’t find a trade, the Raiders might be wise to get ahead of the bidding war now and swap a late-round pick for the cornerback.
He’s due $13.4 million this season, which is still far below his market value considering how good he’s been over the last few seasons. Bradberry is a perfect fit in Graham’s defense and would solve one of their bigger needs without using a draft pick.
Bradberry probably won’t be a long-term solution for the Raiders, but he could be their best outside cornerback from Day 1. And if it only takes a late-round pick to secure one of the best cornerbacks in the league for the 2022 season, it’s something that needs to be considered.
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