8. S Damarious Randall
I wouldn’t have put safety as a major need this offseason with Johnathan Abram and Erik Harris already on the roster. The Raiders clearly felt differently as they had been tied to several free-agent safeties before ultimately landing Randall.
The thing about Abram and Harris is both can play either safety position, but their strengths are as thumpers. Randall is better suited as a free safety and he has strong enough coverage abilities to step in at cornerback as well.
Last season the Raiders found themselves in a bind in the secondary. Abram was lost for the season in the opener. Then Karl Joseph was lost for the season in week nine. They signed D.J. Swearinger off the street, but for that didn’t last long. Lamarcus Joyner can play safety, but if they moved him, who would play the nickel? Curtis Riley was tried there and he was awful, so they moved Daryl Worley over from cornerback to safety, which meant weakening both positions.
Long story short, they don’t want to find themselves in that situation again. Randall could be the key to that. He or Harris could start the season alongside Abram. Either way, there is a solid starter and much-needed depth.
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