The Las Vegas Raiders have addressed their requirement for defensive tackle by signing Christian Wilkins and now have a big need for a cornerback. It's likely that they will address this position early in the draft, but they will thoroughly investigate their options.
Per a March 17 X post from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Raiders are bringing in former Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White for a visit.
White was one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL and was named to All-Pro teams in 2019 and 2020. He also co-led the NFL in interceptions in 2019 with six. Unfortunately, White has been plagued by injuries over the last three seasons.
He missed six games in 2021, 11 in 2022 and 13 last season due to a torn Achilles. When he's been on the field, he's played well but he's struggled to stay on the field. Given his injury history, White should be an affordable option in free agency. If he stays healthy, the Raiders could secure one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL at a discounted price. If he gets injured again, it likely wouldn't have a huge impact on the salary cap.
Alexander Mattison Also Visiting Las Vegas Raiders
On the offensive side, the Raiders are in need of a running back after allowing Josh Jacobs to leave in free agency. Zamir White is expected to be the starter but the team still requires a No. 2.
One player the Raiders are considering is former Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison. He's visiting Las Vegas, according to a March 18 X post from Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.
Mattison became the starting running back for the Vikings last season after they released Dalvin Cook. He rushed for a career-high 700 yards. He's likely better suited to be the No. 2 running back. He could also provide some competition for White for the starting spot. The Raiders could also consider drafting a running back but Mattison is a good player to bring into training camp and let him compete.
Las Vegas Raiders Being Patient in Free Agency
Aside from the first day of free agency when the Raiders signed Christian Wilkins and Gardner Minshew, it’s been a fairly quiet offseason so far. It's evident that general manager Tom Telesco didn't want to spend all of their salary cap space in the initial days of free agency.
While the Raiders are exercising patience, they are expected to sign several new players. There are needs on the offensive line, running back, and cornerback. The team could also consider adding another quarterback with just Minshew and Aidan O’Connell on the roster currently.
There are many quality players remaining who should become more affordable as free agency continues. According to Over the Cap, the Raiders still have $28 million in salary cap space, which gives them plenty of room to make moves. The team should become more active in the upcoming weeks to start building out the roster with more depth.
