The Oakland Raiders completely revamped their safety position this offseason, signing Lamarcus Joyer and drafting Johnathan Abram. It appeared as if there was no room for former first rounder Karl Joseph.
The Raiders then made their intentions clear by declining Joseph’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent following the season.
Joseph hasn’t lived up to his draft selection – 14th overall in 2016 – but he has shown moments of potential. In 2018 he amassed 48 tackles with two sacks and an interception. He received an above average grade of 74.5 from Pro Football Focus, the highest of his career.
For teams around the league, Joseph could be seen as a bounce-back type of player. With a change of scenery there is a chance he could live up to his first round pedigree.
For the Raiders, moving Joseph ensures that they don’t let him walk for free. While there’s a chance they could earn a compensatory pick if he walks, there’s also a chance he flops in the final year of his deal. Moving him now ensures that they get some form of compensation.
Joseph is a hard-hitting young safety with potential in the NFL. If a team thinks he is worth it, the Raiders could fetch a first round pick for a player the new regime didn’t draft. If Joseph were to be moved, these teams would likely be interested.
