Report: Raiders to sign cornerback Prince Amukamara

By Case Keefer (contact)

Tuesday, May 12, 2020 | 4:04 p.m.

The Raiders didn’t strike out on improving their cornerback corps through free agency after all.

Las Vegas agreed to a deal with perhaps the top remaining corner on the market, Prince Amukamara, today, according to an NFL.com report. The 30-year-old Amukamara is a nine-year veteran with 84 career starts after being selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

He’s the second former Giants first-round cornerback linked to the Raiders this free agency, as they initially agreed to sign Eli Apple before the deal fell through. Apple remains a free agent.

Amukamara played the past three seasons with the Chicago Bears before the team released him in February ahead of the final year of his deal. He was solid with the Bears and put together a career year in 2018, when he logged three interceptions including one returned for a touchdown and a personal-high coverage grade by Pro Football Focus.

Amukamara, who won a Super Bowl with the Giants as a rookie, becomes the most experienced cornerback on the roster. The Raiders may otherwise rely heavily on rookies — Damon Arnette and Amik Robertson — and second-year players — Trayvon Mullen and Isaiah Johnson.

Pass defense was their biggest issue a year ago, and improving it is key to reaching the postseason in their inaugural season locally. Details on the deal were not immediately available.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.