Cornerback AJ Bouye, who is a free agent, recently visited the Las Vegas Raiders. Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullen would benefit from a mentor. Would this be the right move for the Raiders moving forward?
Why should the Raiders take a look at A.J. Bouye?
Bouye met with the Raiders recently, per Mike Klis of 9News. Releasing him helped the Denver Broncos free up $11 million in cap space. Meanwhile, Nevin Lawson, who signed a one-year deal last offseason, and Daryl Worley, who joined the team in the middle of the season will likely hit the open market. With those two most likely looking for a new home, it is clear the cornerback position is one of many positions the Raiders need to fill in this offseason.
Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley surely wants new faces to shake up his defense, so it makes sense for the Raiders to kick the tires on him. If they are looking for a cheap option in the secondary, he’s an option. Moreover, he can help mentor Las Vegas’ young cornerbacks.
Does Bouye come with red flags?
Bouye does come with some baggage though. Just like the rest of the Raiders’ secondary, he’s coming off an injury-riddled season. Last season, the UCF product had a shoulder dislocation that put him on the shelf for four weeks. His second injury was a result of a concussion in week eight. Then in December, he got slapped a six-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He would also be sitting out the first two games at the start of this season as well.
His one year in Denver was definitely one to forget. If Bouye does sign a contract anywhere, it is going to have to be a sort of prove-it deal. For the Raiders, do they possibly see this as a low-risk, high reward scenario? Possibly, but there shouldn’t be an issue with them, at least checking in on their options as free agency is right around the corner.
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The Bottom Line
There is nothing wrong with Bouye visiting Gruden and Mayock. However, this may not be the right call for the Silver and Black. His injury history may be a reoccurring issue and the Raiders do not need more of those problems in their secondary. Add on to the fact that Bouye will also be missing the first two games at the start of the season, that’s even more games he could potentially miss if he can’t stay healthy.
If Vegas wants a veteran cornerback to fill that need, Richard Sherman might be a better option. He could be a better fit for them and add a new spark that the younger players could use on the field.
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