Could Las Vegas Add This Former All-Pro Defensive Star?
It's a new era in Paradise, Nevada as the Las Vegas Raiders have switched from longtime quarterback Derek Carr to Super Bowl champion Jimmy Garoppolo. Along with adding former Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas also drafted edge rusher Tyree Verse out of Texas Tech 7th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
But the Raiders should look at another top player on the market, who could help fill one of the biggest needs on the team right now, which is defensive back. Currently, the position is led by Nate Hobbs and Duke Shelly. Shelly was a former late-round pick by the Chicago Bears, who signed with Vegas this off-season.
Shelly has one career interception and played with Minnesota Vikings last season. Hobbs was a fifth-round pick in 2021 by the Raiders and he has been a standout player for Las Vegas. He was named to the PFF All-Rookie team in 2021. But could the Raiders look to add a former first-round pick by their rivals Kansas City Chiefs?
Could Marcus Peters Be The Solution In Las Vegas?
Marcus Peters was a first-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he quickly became a star, intercepting eight passes and recording two defensive touchdowns in his rookie season. He was named the 2015 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. which was rightly deserved.
In 2018, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he was a key contributor in the Rams' Super Bowl run that season, where he played all 16 games, and recorded three picks and one pick-six. In 2019, he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, where he has been there ever since. As a Raven, Peters had eight interceptions in four seasons while playing in 37 games, and missed the entire 2021 season after tearing his ACL.
In his eight-year career, Peters has 32 picks, seven defensive touchdowns, and has been a really good defensive back in the NFL.
After many years of defensive struggles, Peters could boost the Raiders defensive core, and be a solid late pickup before training camp. But could the Raiders even afford Marcus Peters?
They could, but moves would need to be made. Marcus Peters is expected to ask for six million per year, and that would be a difficult price for the Raiders, who have only $2 million in cap space left. With some contract restructuring, Las Vegas could maybe afford him. The Raiders could sign him for a one-year prove-it deal, and give him a shot to prove himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
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