The Las Vegas Raiders have made a few roster moves ahead of free agency. After releasing a few players, they have started to bring in others for a visit, but so far, none of their moves this offseason have moved the needle.
The Raiders recently brought in cornerback A.J. Bouye for a visit, per Mike Kliss of 9News. Although the 2017 Pro Bowl nod left Sin City without a contract, there’s a chance he could come back. Also, former Chicago Bears safety HaHa Clinton-Dix visited Las Vegas, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
On the surface, it’s a good thing the Raiders are looking for ways to upgrade their backfield. After all, their defense ranked 30th in points allowed in 2020, and possibly cost the team a few victories. On the other hand, Clinton-Dix and Bouye are far from the solution to their secondary woes.
Bouye was one of the best corners in his prime. However, he served a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing policy. Moreover, he dealt with shoulder and head injuries last season. Meanwhile, Clinton-Dix hasn’t lived up to his draft status. Although he earned a Pro Bowl designation in 2016, he’s become somewhat of a journeyman in the last few years, having spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Football Team, and the Chicago Bears.
What are the Raiders doing?
The Raiders haven’t had a good track record in free agency in recent years, and Bouye and Clinton-Dix are far from the kind of players Las Vegas Needs. If the team wants defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to succeed and turn things around, they need to give him playmakers, not band-aid fixes.
In the Raiders’ favor, free agency hasn’t started and they may just be performing due diligence for the time being. After making a few cuts, they currently have around $40.8 million cap room. They can be active shoppers in the open market if they choose to. It’s true that they won’t be able to sign every big-name free agent but kicking the tires on Clinton-Dix and Bouye isn’t particularly enticing.
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