The Oakland Raiders have made a number of small upgrades this offseason, but one position they have yet to be able to fill is at cornerback and the team is doing something about it, as they are going after free agents Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins.
According to ESPN.com, the Raiders have shown an interest in former Denver Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter, while the New Orleans Saints are also chasing him. The team has been looking to upgrade depth at the position as they have two starting spots open and Mike Jenkins of the Cowboys and Terence Newman of the Bengals are also targets, although Newman could return back to his old team.
Porter is getting looked at by the Saints, but they have made it a priority to try and bring in Nnamdi Asomugha, although Porter could be the backup plan if that deal falls through. The Saints are looking at cornerback as hard as any team in the league, as they had one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL last season while Sean Payton was suspended.
Porter has connections to Oakland, as head coach Dennis Allen used to work with him when he was on the Saints and after signing a one-year deal with the Broncos, he could be ready to move on to another team this season. The team did not use him much after he went down with an injury and he likely would have a starting job in Oakland.
Oakland is also looking at Jenkins, who the Cowboys grew sick of as his play slipped over the past two seasons. Dallas drafted him in the first round in 2008, but he hasn't put up great numbers and the Cowboys don't need him anymore after signing Brandon Carr last season and taking Morris Claiborne in the draft.
The Raiders have both cornerback spots open for the 2013 season and could be looking at Dee Milliner with the third pick, although he could go as high as one to the Chiefs. Kansas City is expected to pick a lineman while the Jaguars are predicted to go with offense, leaving the raiders to select a top defensive player or even quarterback Geno Smith is he is available.
The cornerback market has gotten thin since Sean Smith signed with Kansas City and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie signed with the Broncos. Brent Grimes is still on the market, although he is coming off of serious surgery, as is Chargers corner Quentin Jammer, who is a veteran presence with solid cover skills.
The Raiders need to upgrade big time at the position, as they allowed over 230 yards per game through the air last season while going just 4-12. The team could get much more consistent play from their defense if they could cover on the outside, as players like newly-signed Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett can use that to get to the quarterback.
The team is still figuring out what to do with Carson Palmer and his contract, as they have been unable to come to a restricting agreement. He is due $13 million this season and could be released or traded if a compromise can't be made.
