The Oakland Raiders have made one big move on offense after acquiring Matt Flynn from the Seattle Seahawks and now the team has done the same on defense, signing cornerback Tracy Porter to a one-year deal as a free agent.
According to ESPN.com, the cornerback texted ESPN's Josina Anderson that he was heading to the Raiders on a deal with $2.5 million. Porter was deciding on the New Orleans Saints, his former team, and the Raiders and opted for Oakland since they had a starting position open. The team was interested in Porter as well as Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman, but he opted to re-sign with the Bengals instead, while Jenkins is weighing an offer from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Porter will provide a veteran presence for the Raiders and should help shore up a defensive backfield that struggles last season while allowing over 230 yards per game through the air. Newman opted to stay with the Bengals despite being offered more money from the Raiders and now the team will need to sign or draft another cornerback.
Porter had a rough year with the Broncos last season after being a starter early in the year, but after dealing with issues related to a seizure he never was able to get back on the field on a consistent basis. Porter now reunites with head coach Dennis Allen, who was formerly his cornerbacks coach while in New Orleans with the Saints.
During his career, Porter has eight interceptions in the regular season as well as two in the playoffs, most notably a pick of Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl that he took back 74 yards for a score, helping the team win the championship.
Nnamdi Asomugha was thought to be a long shot for the team to sign, while the addition of Porter likely ends that discussion. Asomugha was released by the Eagles earlier in the offseason and is weighing options on playing for the Saints or the San Francisco 49ers. After the Raiders signed Porter, the Saints may go hard after Asomugha, as they hoped that they could lure Porter back to his former team.
The Saints could also be in play for Jenkins and Asomugha, as the team was one of the worst in the NFL against the pass last season. The Raiders have made a number of moves in the past week, including trading for Matt Flynn and trading away Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals for a seventh round pick.
The team went just 4-12 last season but looks much better on paper after the acquisitions as well as the signings of linebackers Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett. The team has the third pick in the draft and they could do after Dee Milliner if he slips past the first two picks of the Chiefs and Jaguars.
