Raiders once again linked to veteran slot cornerback

While the Las Vegas Raiders did try to make some improvements on defense, some sticking points remain.

On the first day of free agency, the Raiders lost slot cornerback Nate Hobbs to the Green Bay Packers. While the team did add some veteran depth to shore up the secondary, that particular spot in the lineup remains questionable heading deeper into the offseason. The current starter is expected to be Darnay Holmes, who struggled in 2024 with a 54.1 Pro Football Focus grade, only good for 165th out of 222 qualifying cornerbacks.

As such, analysts and fans have pushed for an improvement at the position, especially since there are some quality veterans still available.

The Raiders should make the call for a stable veteran presence in their secondary.

When discussing the one move all 32 NFL teams still need to make, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton suggested that the Raiders add former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton into their lineup.

“The Raiders have glaring needs at linebacker and cornerback, and Hilton would help fill the latter as one of the best free agents available. Last season, Hilton recorded 73 tackles, 12 for loss, five pass breakups and an interception while allowing 8.7 yards per reception,” Moton wrote.

“Darnay Holmes has experience in defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s system as the slot cornerback. Hilton would be an upgrade with his starting experience and productivity. He’s a feisty nickelback who fits the competitive spirit that head coach Pete Carroll likes to see in his defense.”

For the Raiders, adding Hilton would be a significant improvement against both the run and the pass.

Currently, Spotrac has Hilton valued at an average annual salary of $12.3 million. However, with the offseason approaching the end and teams beginning to gear up towards training camp, it is likely Hilton would take a short-term deal in order to boost his chances of landing a bigger payday next spring. Even if it requires a larger financial commitment, the Raiders have $36 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, so money is no obstacle to get a deal done.

Hilton makes perfect sense for the Raiders to bring in as a speculative add, so the team should be monitoring this situation closely.