Raiders DBs Can Learn from Marcus Epps

Las Vegas Raiders safety Marcus Epps can be a mentor to the team's young defensive backs.

The Las Vegas Raiders signed safety Marcus Epps to a two-year, $12- million contract as General Manager Dave Ziegler made significant changes to the secondary.

Epps played more than 1,000 snaps for the Philadelphia Eagles last season as they had one of the best defenses in the NFL at all three levels.

Epps had 76 total tackles and five passes defended last season for the NFC Champions, playing all but 10 snaps in a talented secondary.

Epps was not a highly-touted player until very recently, as he was an overlooked high school player and was only a sixth round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Epps put in incalculable work to get to the level of play he maintained last season.

The Raiders have a considerably young defensive back room, as the cornerback group has an average age of 24.5 and the safety group has an average age of around 25.

Epps, 27, played 1,095 snaps last season, which would have led the Raiders. Being a starting safety on the best team in the NFC is valuable experience Epps can bring to a young, inexperienced and unproven Raiders’ secondary.

Epps is exactly the type of defensive back that Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham covets for his defense, a smart, mistake-free type of player. The Raiders have young, talented defensive backs, and Epps can be an extension of Graham on the field and help those young players tap into their potential.

While he is a talented player, what truly drew the Raiders to Epps was his intangibles. Epps has natural leadership capabilities that the Raiders need in their secondary, as they were one of the worst units in the NFL last season.

Epps is a perfect example of the type of communicator and leader the Raiders defense needed. A player with his level of experience and winning pedigree can pass on knowledge to the secondary and help turn the entire unit around.

With the Raiders looking to have a bounce-back season from a disappointing 2022, Epps can be a crucial piece to a defensive turnaround that will have to happen if the Raiders want to be successful in 2023.

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