Duke Shelley Could Be an Under-the-Radar Signing
The Las Vegas Raiders made noticeable efforts to improve their secondary by adding several defensive backs in free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.
One of the players they signed in March was cornerback Duke Shelley, who joined the Raiders after spending time with the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings.
Last season, Shelley posted 31 tackles, eight passes defended and an interception in 11 games. He made his impact felt as a rotational defensive back on a playoff team.
Now, Shelley will look to bring that impact to the Raiders, whether he earns a starting role or continues to be an important depth piece in a secondary that needs help.
Shelley played 398 snaps last season, allowing just 20 receptions on 41 targets, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed just a 57.9 passer rating when he was targeted.
Shelley received a coverage grade of 84.9, fourth-highest in the NFL of qualified cornerbacks. Current Raiders corner Tyler Hall was third on the list at 86.3.
With the elite offenses the Raiders are going to play in the AFC West, having above average cover corners is going to be of the utmost importance to Patrick Graham’s defensive unit.
Shelley was not thought of as one of the top tier free agents this offseason, but based on his play last season, there’s no reason to believe he should not have been. The Raiders may have found themselves a player who can be a major contributor to the defensive back room on a reasonable price.
While Shelley is a great cover corner, he was not as good at stopping the run. He is a smaller player, only standing at 5-9 and weighing 180 pounds, so being a run defender was more difficult.
Shelley played on the outside at cornerback for the Vikings last season and flew well under-the-radar as a defender. He now joins the Raiders with a chance to build on that play and potentially become an important player on defense.
The Raiders were looking for help in the secondary, and they may have signed the most underrated free agent to help them do just that.
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