With the new CBA now passed, the 2020 NFL offseason is set to officially begin on Wednesday, barring any changes. However, the legal tampering period begins on Monday at midnight, as teams can start negotiating with free agents.
One free agent who should get a lot of attention over the next few weeks is Raiders’ safety Karl Joseph. After a disappointing start to his career, Joseph has played well over the last two seasons and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
According to Pro Football Focus, Joseph was ranked as the 49th-best available free agent and one of the top safeties on the market. Take a look at what PFF had to say about Joseph entering free agency:
A player who has always earned consistently solid grades, Karl Joseph just hasn’t made enough splash plays in his time in the NFL to convince his own team to buy-in long-term or even keep his starting spot secure. Joseph has just four interceptions in four seasons with the Raiders and has forced just a single fumble, but he has hit double-digit defensive stops every season and shown the ability to be a solid force on defense. Joseph has talent, particularly in a coverage scheme that plays with split safeties, and he will likely be available for a bargain fee given how his Raiders tenure panned out.
Due to his foot injury, Joseph may come at quite the discount over the next few weeks. For a team searching for an in-the-box safety who has drastically improved in coverage, Joseph could be the ideal target during the second or third wave of free agency.
But with the Raiders already having Johnathan Abram and Lamarcus Joyner under contract, look for Joseph to land elsewhere in free agency on a team that can offer him more money and snaps. And don’t be surprised if he becomes one of the steals of free agency this offseason.
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