Oakland Raiders Select Karl Joseph
One thing you have to love about Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio is he tells the truth. At the NFL Scouting Combine a few weeks ago, he didn’t play games when he answered questions. He was adamant about doing all he could to improve his secondary that cost the team last year.
He said, “We have to attack our secondary with draft picks and free agents. We’re going to do that. We’re going to add talent to that group and make it really competitive. It’ll be similar to how we attacked wide receiver and tight end last year, where you go out and find a couple of guys (at the combine) that you like.
“Then you add a few free agents to the mix and make that area much more competitive. For TJ [Carrie] and everybody else that’s returning, they’re going to need to compete and earn their way. Our secondary is going to be attacked this offseason with talent. Guys who are there are going to have to compete.”
Del Rio started in free agency, signing NFL INT leading free safety Reggie Nelson and big-time cornerback Sean Smith. Then Thursday night in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he took safety Karl Joseph. When I first saw Joseph on tape, I immediately saw him as one of the best prospects in the draft.
He’s a better safety than Jalen Ramsey, who will likely end up a cornerback with the Cowboys. Joseph is a versatile safety that can cover 1-on-1, creep into the box, and play the single-high safety. He can even rush the passer off the slot, disrupting the quarterback when you send him on a blitz.
I had the Raiders taking defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche because I didn’t know about Joseph’s knee. But Joseph, a bigger version of Tyrann Mathieu, had to have checked out fine with the Raiders’ medical staff. If you’re a Raiders fan, celebrate because the Raiders got the best player available at a need.
Joseph will likely play strong safety, joining Nelson, Smith and cornerback David Amerson. TJ Carrie, Neiko Thorpe and 2013 1st-round pick DJ Hayden will battle it out for slot corner. The Raiders just need an inside linebacker now and they will be without weakness on that defense.
This is the year!