The Raiders’ training camp is primarily focused on the ongoing debate over the starting quarterback position, with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell vying for the role. Given the significance of the quarterback’s performance for the team’s success, it’s no surprise that discussions revolve around these two players. However, in the early days of training camp, neither quarterback has been the standout story. Instead, that honor has gone to second-year cornerback Jakorian Bennett.
Bennett is emerging as a potentially transformative player for the Raiders this season. After experiencing a challenging rookie year, he has shown notable improvement during the early practices of training camp. Reporters and observers have praised his performance, highlighting a marked difference from his struggles in the previous season. According to Pro Football Focus, Bennett finished the last season ranked as the third-worst cornerback in the league, placing 124th out of 127 eligible players. Despite this, he has seized his opportunities in training camp, primarily working with the first-team defense.
Vic Tafur, a reporter for The Athletic covering the Raiders, noted that cornerback Brandon Facyson was absent from practice on Monday for unspecified reasons, which allowed Bennett to take on all the starting snaps at outside cornerback. This situation is particularly crucial for Bennett, who lost his starting role last season due to a combination of injuries and subpar performances. His impressive showing in camp indicates he may be on track to reclaim his position.
Additionally, Hondo Carpenter, a Raiders Insider for Sports Illustrated, shared his insights on Bennett during a recent podcast, asserting that Bennett has arguably been the best player in camp, consistently standing out each day. This endorsement further emphasizes Bennett’s upward trajectory and highlights the expectations surrounding him.
The Raiders drafted Bennett in the fourth round of the previous year’s draft with the hope that he would make an immediate impact. Unfortunately, injuries and performance issues led to him losing his starting role by mid-season, and he didn’t start again after Week 4. If Bennett can regain his form as a starting-caliber cornerback, he could be a pivotal piece in strengthening the Raiders’ secondary. On paper, the secondary already appears to be solid, with players like Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, and Tre’von Moehrig all finishing within the top 50 at their respective positions according to PFF.
While it’s still early in training camp and premature to draw any definitive conclusions, Bennett’s performance is encouraging for the Raiders. If he can maintain his momentum, it could alleviate some concerns surrounding the cornerback position, particularly the crucial CB2 spot. Having a reliable second cornerback would greatly benefit the Raiders as they prepare for the upcoming season, allowing the team to focus on other aspects of their game without the added pressure of that position being a liability. Overall, the initial impressions of Bennett are promising, suggesting he could play a significant role in the Raiders’ defensive strategy this year.
