The first offseason under a new ownership regime, led by Tom Brady, has been a resounding success for the Las Vegas Raiders. Employing Pete Carroll as the new head coach and trading for Geno Smith to be the new starting quarterback gave the team two immediate upgrades.
Additionally, the 2025 NFL Draft also went smoothly for Las Vegas, with the front office addressing nearly every need the team has. But with a fast track towards playoff contention on their mind, one analyst believes there is a position that Brady and the front office could target in the remaining days of the summer.
Las Vegas Raiders Urged To Target Key Area of Need
Last season, the Raiders finished as the 21st-ranked unit on PFSN’s Defense+ metric. However, a large portion of their issues stemmed from their work against the pass. Led by Maxx Crosby, their run defense was solid, at the very least.
They ranked 17th in pass defense success rate, while allowing a passer rating of 96.5. As a result, their secondary was a major area of concern heading into the offseason. Unfortunately, the team didn’t do enough to turn the tide significantly.
Losing Tre’Von Moehrig, Jack Jones, and Nate Hobbs, in favor of adding Jeremy Chinn, Eric Stokes, and rookie Darien Porter, might have been a net neutral in terms of effectiveness. But with the rest of their moves signalling a push for the playoffs, some additional help on the defensive end might be a necessity.
As a result, Brandon Austin of PFSN has Vegas targeting Rasul Douglas among the remaining pool of free agents. An eight-year veteran in the league, Douglas was part of the Philadelphia Eagles squad that won Super Bowl LII.
For Austin, the loss of Hobbs and Jones makes it a priority for the Raiders to target the cornerback position, making Douglas the perfect veteran to provide steady contributions.
“Douglas is a physical cornerback with the length to contest passes and the toughness to hold his own in run support. He recorded five tackles for loss for the Bills in 2024. He thrives in zone coverage and uses his big frame to challenge receivers along the boundary.”
RASUL DOUGLAS PICK-6!
Back-to-back weeks with a INT returned for TD! #GoPackGo @rd32_era
📺: #CHIvsGB on NBC
📱: https://t.co/ptqAMuLpIh pic.twitter.com/gP3USYn6sW— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2021
With the injury concerns looming around Jakorian Bennett, the addition of the former Buffalo Bills corner would also give them some insurance on that end. Over the last three years, Douglass has missed three games in total.
His availability, while providing solid coverage, might be a smart bet for Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders.