Fansided

Oakland Raiders free agency 2017: Top 5 targets

By Brad Weiss

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 18: Head coach Jack Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders on the field before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 18, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 18: Head coach Jack Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders on the field before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 18, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) in action against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) in action against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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A.J. Bouye

CB, Houston Texans

If there is one bugaboo about the Oakland Raiders, it is that they cannot get people to play the cornerback position on a consistent basis. Last offseason, the Raiders brought in Sean Smith to team with David Amerson at the position, and they still were burnt on too many occasions. As the team looks to  be a legitimate Super Bowl contender going forward, this is the position that they have to address once again this offseason.

During their wild card loss to the Houston Texans, one thing was made very clear, that A.J. Bouye is going to be a star in this league. The kid can do it all from the cornerback position, and the Raiders need to do anything they can to get him in the Silver and Black next season. Not only is he a great cover guy, but he also comes up and makes tackles, which is very rare nowadays from a cornerback in this league.

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The pieces are in place for the Raiders to be very good for a long time, and now they just have to tinker with the roster. Bringing in a player like Bouye would make the secondary an actual strength for once, and would limit the big plays that have killed the Raiders on so many occasions. Bouye is going to be a highly-sought after free agent, but the Raiders have shown recently that they can get some big names players to come play in Oakland.