With The First Pick
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Reggie Nelson completes the Oakland Raiders

By Carl Cockerham

Nov 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) is defended by Cincinnati Bengals free safety Reggie Nelson (20) and cornerback Adam Jones (24) during a NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Texans defeated the Bengals 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) is defended by Cincinnati Bengals free safety Reggie Nelson (20) and cornerback Adam Jones (24) during a NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Texans defeated the Bengals 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oakland Raiders General manager Reggie McKenzie is working like he may not have a job in 2016. He brought in OG Kelechi Osemele, LB Bruce Irvin and CB Sean Smith in free agency. He re-signed OLB Aldon Smith and a few days ago and Thursday, he got FS Reggie Nelson to agree to terms on a two-year deal.

He was expected to sign with the team Wednesday but somehow made it out of the building without signing. But that no longer matters because Nelson will play for the Silver and Black in 2016. The Pro Bowl safety has been a Cincinnati Bengal the last six years but head coach Jack Del Rio picked him in the first round in 2007 when he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Nelson turns 33 in September but only missed three games in five seasons with the Bengals. And be it that he had his best season in 2015 with 77 tackles and tying for the NFL lead with eight interceptions last season there’s little to worry about. Nelson appears to be aging like fine wine just like Charles Woodson who he’ll replace.

This is a huge signing as the pass-rush they’ll have will force many a bad throw for Nelson to capitalize on. Creating turnovers on the defensive side of the ball will go a long way toward the Raiders’ quest to break their 13-year playoff drought. With Nelson now in the fold, the Raiders no longer have any team weaknesses.

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