Rookie CB Decamerion Richardson could be a Day 1 starter for Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are set at nearly every position on defense. The unit is full of talent and depth, especially in their front seven. But the one spot that has an open competition is the No. 2 cornerback job.

Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs are two of the starting cornerbacks on the roster, but the Raiders are desperately searching for another starting outside cornerback. Going into camp, Jakorian Bennett is the favorite to win the job, but don’t sleep on a Day 3 pick from the 2023 NFL Draft winning the job.

In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they named five Day 3 draft picks from this year’s class that could earn starting roles this season. That list included Decamerion Richardson, a fourth-round pick by the Raiders. Here is a snippet of their thoughts on the former SEC cornerback:

At just over 6-foot-2 (95th percentile), Richardson brings ideal length and athleticism to the position, which was made known after he ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash and jumped 10 feet, 8 inches in the broad.

He earned an 86.5 PFF coverage grade last season with the Bulldogs due to his athleticism but was drafted on Day 3 because he didn’t record a single interception in his college career with just 10 forced incompletions. If he can develop better instincts and anticipation to make plays on the ball, that starting outside job could be his.

Richardson, Bennett, and Brandon Facyson will all compete for the No. 2 job but don’t sleep on Richardson due to his size and speed. His lack of ball skills could be an issue, but he might be the most well-rounded cornerback of the group. Keep an eye on him during camp as a possible riser for Las Vegas.