The Las Vegas Raiders have done a lot of promising things this offseason, but they are taking some risks on the roster, especially on defense. The secondary is very young, and it’s still not clear who the starting cornerbacks will be with less than a month before the start of the regular season.
Relying on youth has paid off in the past for head coach Pete Carroll. It wasn’t long ago that Riq Woolen was a fifth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, who became a starter and a Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Speaking of Woolen, he is entering the final year of his contract, and if the Raiders’ cornerbacks underwhelm this season, they may be interested in adding a big name next offseason. Though the season hasn’t even started yet, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes Las Vegas should be keeping an eye on Woolen for next year’s free agency.
“We already know how Pete Carroll feels about Riq Woolen,” Ballentine wrote. “He was still in the Pacific Northwest when he was drafted in 2022. Since then, he has proved himself as a capable starter who can thrive within the coach’s defensive philosophy. The 6’4”, 210-pound corner would give them a major upgrade in the cornerback room.
“As it stands, the Raiders are looking to get a huge bounce-back season from Eric Stokes, a breakout season from Jakorian Bennett (who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles) or immediate contributions from third-round pick Darien Porter. All three are gambles for one reason or another. Signing Woolen would give them more answers heading into 2026.”
Raiders Might Have Next Woolen Already on Roster
Carroll clearly has a type that he likes when it comes to cornerbacks. He wants them to be tall and athletic.
That’s why the Raiders used a third-round pick on Darien Porter in this year’s draft. He’s 6-foot-3 and runs a 4.30 40-yard dash. Many compared Porter to former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman during the draft process, but he actually thinks he’s more comparable to Woolen.
“I think athletically, I fit a little bit more Tariq than Richard Sherman,” Porter said after the draft. “But just looking to take all the coaching I can to get to the level of those guys.”
If Porter can have a similar rookie season to Woolen’s, the Raiders likely won’t need to spend big on a cornerback next offseason.
Porter Was Surprised to Get Drafted by Raiders
In hindsight, Porter was an obvious player for Carroll to target. However, he didn’t expect the Raiders to be the team that ultimately selected him.
“Looking back on it I tell people this, it was a surprise but when I thought about it – it really wasn’t,” Porter recently told Raiders.com. “I talked to the Raiders once pre-draft, post-Combine. I thought other teams were more interested, but seeing what Coach Carroll likes in his defensive backs, in hindsight it wasn’t a surprise at all. But I am very thankful to be in this position, learning from a guy like Coach Carroll, learning from a guy like Coach [Joe] Woods. I couldn’t have landed in a more perfect spot for someone like me.”
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