PFF Credits Raiders For Upgrade in Their Secondary

Pro Football Focus named the Las Vegas Raiders one of the five "most improved secondaries" this offseason.

The Las Vegas Raiders needed revamping their secondary this offseason, and they have certainly done so.

With the 2023 NFL Draft concluded, the club has gained the recognition of Pro Football Focus as one of the five "most improved secondaries" in the league in an article by Zoltán Buday.

The writer included the Detroit Lions, the Seattle Seahawks, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Miami Dolphins as the other four teams to qualify.

Here is what Buday wrote of the Raiders:

"Similarly to the Lions, the Raiders are another team in dire need of help in the secondary, as the defense earned a 53.5 coverage grade, the third lowest in the NFL in 2022. Out of the 10 Las Vegas defensive backs who were on the field for more than 100 pass plays in 2022, seven allowed a passer rating over 90.0 when targeted. In addition, they combined for just six interceptions, which actually came from only three players. So it probably comes as no surprise that the Raiders attempted almost completely to overhaul their secondary in the 2023 offseason.

"Consequently, they let cornerbacks Anthony Averett and Rock Ya-Sin in addition to safety Duron Harmon walk in free agency. As a replacement, the Raiders signed [Duke] Shelley, who had a breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings, earning a 86.4 PFF coverage grade in 2022, which ranked third among all cornerbacks. Not only does he represent an immediate upgrade if he keeps up that form, but Shelley also is on a team-friendly contract, as he signed a one-year contract that can pay him up to $1.3 million. In addition, they also signed [David] Long [Jr.], who was a key contributor for the Los Angeles Rams on their way to win the Super Bowl in 2021, and [Marcus] Epps, who was a starter and played more than 1,200 snaps on the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.

Here is a complete list of every 2023 Raiders draft pick and links to more information about them:

Round 1 No. 7 overall pick: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech

Round 2 No. 35 overall pick: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Round 3 No. 70 overall: Byron Young, DT, Alabama

Round 3 No. 100 overall: Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati

Round 4 No. 104 overall: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland

Round 4 No. 135 overall: Aidan O'Connell, QB, Purdue

Round 5 No. 170 overall: Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia

Round 6 No. 203 overall: Amari Burney, LB, Florida

Round 7 No. 231 overall: Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State

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