Raiders Nation waited almost a month for the Raiders to do something – anything – in terms of a defensive back. The wait ended Friday when the team brought former top pick Karl Joseph back to Cleveland after a year away.
The question with the signing of this free agency is let a big impact on the player. It is clear that this has yet to be seen. Here are five ways in which it will be an influential signature.
1. Concept flexibility
To immediately add a viable initial safety before the concept was a must. If they only tackled Johnathan Abram as an appetizer and Jeff Heath as an appetizer, there is no way to get out of the first two days without setting up a safety.
Sure, it seems easy enough, but that’s what everyone says until a) the man they wanted is not there, or that there is a reach in that position, or b) there is a better prospect of ‘ another position of distress on the board they will have to do. succeed in addressing the safety position (offensive approach, anyone?).
If Joseph is in the house, should the Raiders find themselves in one of the above dilemmas, it is much easier to make the wise decision and lean more towards the best player available (in an essential position) than to be upset because they are desperate.
2. Low cost contract
This is the best option to check out one of the best free agencies. But that ship basically sailed. With Joseph’s signing, there is expected to be less than $ 3 million in their room, which is not even enough to sign their draft class.
The Raiders put Yannick Ngakoue to the forefront and for some reason gave Kolton Miller an extension of three years and put some of the money on this year’s low capital. So, even before we know the details of Joseph’s contract, we know it should be cheap, otherwise he would not be here now.
3. Move (back) to free safety
It may be at number three, but it is easily the most important. Joseph came from West Virginia and made comparisons to Earl Thomas of NFL Draft Expert (check notes) Mike Mayock. You know, the same guy who’s now the GM of the Raiders.
Thomas is a triple All-Pro free safety as an important part of the Legion of Boom defense in Seattle, which became prominent under the defense coordinator (check notes), Gus Bradley. Do you know, the man who just hired the Raiders as defense coordinator?
Mayock called Joseph “a poor Count Thomas” when Joseph entered the concept in 2016. ” An ACL tear threatened to knock Joseph out of the first round, but the Raiders were unfit and grabbed him at 14 overall … and then moved him to strong safety (facepalm).
In the first year of Jon Gruden, Joseph acted as head coach in 2018 with free safety. And then they set up the hard-working safety Johnathan Abram, who seemed to be able to lead Joseph to more time in midfield. But Abram was injured during the season opener and with Erik Harris more suited to free safety work, Joseph would be much more in the box.
Even in Cleveland, Joseph was mostly in strong safety. But, as it happens, she’s one interception of the season as a (wait for it) free safety in (wait … for … it …) Gus Bradley’s favorite Cover-3 defense.
Check out this Karl Joseph interception from Dwayne Haskins
* Everyone’s favorite play, four verticals
* If you are reading this against Front Page 3 work
* Move safety with your eyes … or do not pic.twitter.com/zKf7f6ybML– Mark Schofield (@MarkSchofield) 28 September 2020
4. Cloakroom presence
While we are talking about Joseph comparing comparisons to Earl Thomas, it should be noted that there are no teams now getting the chance to sign Thomas. Despite being just 31 years old and having a Pro Bowl season. Why? because he is seen as a locker room problem.
He made enough of a stink in Seattle in 2019 that they refused to sign him for a long-term deal. Then, after a hold, he returns to play his remaining season, only to break his leg in the fourth game. When he was chased off the field, he made his coach, Pete Carroll, infamous.
His frustrations seem somewhat justified and after that season he signed a $ 55 million four-year deal with the Ravens. It took one season before he was hacked amid reports that his teammates were pleading to get rid of him.
Joseph is much loved. He was also pretty candid on Friday after signing up on how he never wanted to leave the Raiders in the first place and felt he was returning home (even though the Raiders are not in the same place as when he left). He also added that when the Browns played against the Raiders last season, there was an outpouring of love from his former teammates.
‘[A]”After the game, I realized how much I miss these guys here, just to drop some of the guys after the game, it feels like I’m never really gone, ” Joseph said. “It felt like it was still like my family, embracing some of the guys after the game, and even sharing a few words with Coach Gruden.”
5. Versatility / depth
Let’s say they’re moving him back to free safety. But then they take a free safety high in the draft and he is ready to go from day one. While Joseph will make a solid next man in one of the safe places. The four safety areas are Abram, a high-choice free safety, Joseph, and Jeff Heath, who are a nice group to go into with the season.
In addition, Joseph is not too proud to play special teams. Although he regularly played every turn with the Raiders on defense in 2019, he still saw most games double-digit snaps on special teams. And last season with the Browns, he also played a lot on special teams.
So while we are talking about the possibility that he will not be an appetizer, he will not just take a position either. The most valuable reserves also contribute to special teams.