The Las Vegas Raiders have made many changes to the roster this offseason. They have moved on from key contributors and have brought others via free agency. One of those players that won’t be back with the team is safety Erik Harris, who has joined the Atlanta Falcons.
Harris will sign a one-year deal with the Falcons, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. The veteran safety signed joined the Raiders in 2017 after being cut by the New Orleans Saints. His best year with Las Vegas arguably came in 2019. That year, he had two interceptions returned for touchdowns, one against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9 and another one against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. Moreover, his five interceptions in the last three seasons led the team, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press.
Over his four-year stint with Las Vegas, he appeared in 65 games, with 30 starts. He logged 189 total tackles (four for a loss), one forced fumble, 20 passes defensed, and five interceptions. After going undrafted in 2013, the California University of Pennsylvania product he signed with the CFL. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2013 to 2015 before joining the New Orleans Saints in 2016.
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The Raiders needed an upgrade at safety
Although Harris became a fan favorite, the Raiders needed an upgrade at safety. Last season, he gave up 22.5 yards per reception and a 58.1 completion rate. Even though he wasn’t the sole reason the Las Vegas’ defense struggled in 2020, his performance didn’t help matters. The team’s brass hasn’t made a significant addition to the safety position in free agency. Nevertheless, the position needs a makeover.
In the end, Raider Nation won’t forget Harris’ contributions to the organization, but the NFL is a business. Just like the organization moved on from Harris, he did the same and took his services to A-Town.
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