The Las Vegas Raiders have completely reshaped their defense since the start of free agency this offseason, filling key needs such as linebacker and defensive line.
One need has still yet to be filled though as the Raiders still have work to do on their secondary. It looked as if they signed a quality cornerback in Eli Apple, but his contract was not able to be finalized and he is now back on the free-agent market.
That freed up some extra cap space though, and it appears they have already begun using it to address another need in the secondary. According to Josina Anderson of ESPN, the Raiders are signing former Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns safety Damarious Randall to a one-year contract:
Former #Browns & #Packers free agent S Damarious Randall just texted me he is going to the Las Vegas #Raiders on a 1-year deal.
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 3, 2020
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the one-year deal is only for $3.25 million, so the Raiders still have some cap space left over:
For the #Raiders and Damarious Randall, it’s a 1-year deal worth up to $3.25 million, source said. https://t.co/lfd1Soemyk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2020
Randall is a player that the Raiders have had interest in since the start of free agency, and will likely start opposite Johnathan Abram at the safety position.
The Raiders also signed another safety in former Dallas Cowboy Jeff Heath this offseason, so they now have quality depth at the position with Erik Harris also still on the roster.
This also tips the Raiders’ hand a bit for who they will take in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as it looks like they will be targetting wide receivers and cornerbacks with their Nos. 12 and 19 overall picks.
Randall is a former first-round pick in 2015 out of Arizona State. In 11 games for the Browns last season, he had 61 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and six passes defensed.
The Raiders should be much-improved on defense in 2020 with the additions of Cory Littleton, Nick Kwiatkoski, Carl Nassib and others, and Randall is yet another quality addition to add to that list.
