Two Raider Cornerbacks Who Have Made an Impact So Far

Las Vegas Raiders cornerbacks Duke Shelley and Jakorian Bennett are making an impact in the Raiders' cornerback room.

The Las Vegas Raiders no doubt struggled in the secondary last NFL season. 

Pro Football Focus said the Raiders secondary dropped significantly within the last two seasons. The Raiders finished the 2021-22 season with the 12th-best cornerback room.

According to PFF, ahead of the 2023-24 NFL season, the Raiders are listed as having the 30th-best secondary and cornerback room. 

The Raiders, however, have made significant changes this offseason to improve the secondary. The Raiders spent this NFL Free Agency signing three new cornerbacks and drafting a rookie cornerback in this year's NFL Draft.

Two cornerbacks have made an impact so far this offseason during OTAs and Raiders Minicamp. According to Levi Edwards, a writer for the Las Vegas Raiders, the two cornerbacks who have made an impact and have impressed him in the secondary are Duke Shelley and rookie Jakorian Bennett.

Duke Shelley is a newly signed cornerback the Raiders signed this offseason. Shelley spent his first four seasons in the NFC North, playing with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Last season was a career season for Shelley with the Minnesota Vikings. He had eight deflections and one interception and recorded an 86.4 PFF coverage grade, which was the third-highest of all cornerbacks in the 2022-23 NFL Season. Edwards writes that Shelley plays with intensity bigger than his size. The 5-foot-9 cornerback has shown that this offseason in practices covering wide receivers Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow.

Jakorian Bennett is the other Raider cornerback who has made an impact in the Raiders' secondary so far. The Raiders drafted the rookie cornerback out of the University of Maryland in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He did not allow a touchdown in his senior season with the Terrapins. Bennett finished with two interceptions and a total of seven pass deflections. He ran a 4.30 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine. His speed can be a crucial factor for the Raiders' secondary this season.

There are still some questions to answer involving the Raiders secondary. With Raiders Training Camp coming very soon, these two cornerbacks could have a first-string role with the Raiders this upcoming NFL Season.

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