Casey Hayward, Los Angeles Chargers. (USA Today)
Casey Hayward is the newest member of the Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive backfield.
After playing the last five NFL seasons for the Los Angeles Chargers, two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Casey Hayward is joining the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in his free agency.
Even though the Bolts and the Silver and Black are not particularly friendly, this free-agent signing makes all the sense in the world. By heading to Las Vegas, Hayward will reunite with his former Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who is tasked with turning around this utterly putrid Raiders defense. With the addition of a savvy veteran like Hayward, the Raiders will progress.
This is a great, low-key move made by the Raiders’ brass after the 2021 NFL Draft to get better.
Las Vegas Raiders are signing former Los Angeles Chargers CB Casey Hayward
By signing Hayward, the Raiders have a defensive back who knows exactly what his role will be in Bradley’s Cover 3 system. This will be similar to what the Raiders ran under previous head coach Jack Del Rio when Pete Carroll disciple Ken Norton Jr. was coordinating his defense. The Cover 3 system is all about playing as freely and as quickly as you can. Of course, the Raiders are so slow.
The only real downside to signing Hayward is it largely signifies that former Stanford standout Richard Sherman is not joining the Silver and Black on his next contract. Hayward and Sherman are roughly the same age and play the same position. Though Sherman knows the scheme from his time with the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders have made their decision by signing Hayward.
This move will make the Raiders a better football team, but they are a long way from contending.