Oakland Raiders: 5 offseason needs in 2019

3. Address the secondary often

It’s an area that the Raiders have consistently addressed over the last few seasons and still haven’t been able to get right. Be it via draft or free agency, the secondary of the Silver and Black has been a major source of frustration for this team for far too many seasons.

From the first-round selection of cornerback D.J. Hayden (now with the Jacksonville Jaguars) in 2013 to the addition of strong safety Karl Joseph with the 14th overall pick three years later to the franchise drafting Ohio State corner Gareon Conley in the first round in ’17, these are just a few examples of the high picks used on the team’s defensive backfield in recent years.

Over the past four seasons dating back to 2015, the Raiders have finished 26th, 24th, 26th and 19th, respectively, in the NFL in passing yards allowed by contest. Silver and Black defenders surrendered a league-high 36 scores through the air, allowing two or more TD passes in 13 of their 16 contests. The good news was that Conley tied for the team lead with three interceptions and led the club with 15 passes defensed. The bad news? The young defender was the Raiders’ top player at the position and Pro Football Focus’ 69th-ranked cornerback (subscription required).

Like the defensive line, the team has a slew of potential free agents that could hit the open market in roughly three weeks. Could the Raiders re-sign cornerback Rashaan Melvin? Could ball-hawking safety Marcus Gilchrist (3 interceptions in ’18) return as well?

Next: No. 2