The Raiders have a few interesting position battles going on at training camp, but none have been quite as wide open as the cornerback position.
Third round pick Darien Porter will get every opportunity to crack the starting lineup, but the only clear starter at cornerback right now appears to be another new face in the locker room.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden was a guest on the Raiders’ flagship radio station this week and he believes former Green Bay Packers CB Erik Stokes is the closest the team has to a sure starter at cornerback.
“I think I’ve said this before about the cornerback room, when you look at someone like Eric Stokes or Darien Porter or Decamerion Richardson, they fit kind of like the mold or the physical traits that Pete Carroll looks for at cornerback, where Jakorian Bennett does not,” McFadden said on Raider Nation Radio’s Morning Tailgate.
“It will be interesting how this plays out with Jakorian Bennett,: McFadden continued. “I’m a bit surprised that he hasn’t received any first team reps just far, just given that the experience he’s had with this defense, and he’s been here for two seasons now.”
“I think when you look at the cornerback… it seems like they’re going to rely a lot on third round pick Darien Porter and Eric Stokes. Because [Stokes] is the one guy in the cornerback room that’s been a steady presence with the first team guys. We’ve seen Darien Porter get rotated, Decamerion Richardson rotated, but when you look at the first team cornerbacks, it seems like so far Eric Stokes has solidified his position at the moment.”
Richardson is a player that has shown improvement in his second year, and he might be someone to watch as the season gets closer, especially if he makes a few plays in preseason.
As for Bennett, his situation is a little odd because in the minds of many he was the most proven cornerback on the roster going into the offseason.
So far, it seems like the current coaching staff doesn’t have particularly big plans for him.
x: @raidersbeat
Before getting hurt, last season. Bennett was the team’s best corner and was getting a lot of good compliments from opposing WR. To think that the team would just release him says a lot about why the Raiders are trash, season after season. Starting to have my doubts about Carroll!
I don’t see where Bennett was released. My doubts with Carroll was giving a soon to be 35 year old journeyman qb over 66 million guaranteed and a two year deal worth up to 85 million who has made the playoffs one time (loss).
Bennett isn’t getting any first team reps. That doesn’t look too good. A lot is being made about him not have the size that Carroll covets for the cb position. I just think it would be a mistake not to continue to develop an obviously talented player because of measurables.