Locking Asomugha up is the smartest move the Raiders have made in years
Asomugha is one of the best defensive backs in the league and easily one of the best overall players in this year’s free agent class. Recent reports had rumored that the Raiders were going to put the franchise tag on him (again), but it looks like both sides avoided another one-year contract and wrapped this thing up for the long haul. I’m sure Nnamdi is glad that he gets something longer than a single season deal—and both reports state that he’s getting a ton of guaranteed money.
While it’s a huge signing for the Raiders, it’s a stomach-punch to all of those teams that were lining up for his services. Asomugha is respected around the league as a guy that shuts down his entire side of the field for the entire game. His stats would be better, but opponents don’t even throw at him anymore. That’s the mark of a great corner. It’s not how many break-ups, interceptions or tackles he has—it’s the fact that the opposition won’t even try to beat him anymore. He has the ability to take any receiver out of the entire game! Just look at the respect that he gets around the league. Even one of the best receivers in the game sounds like he wants no piece of talented corner.
Just think how valuable that could be to a defense that wants to play an aggressive type style. Since his defensive coordinator never has to give him help, they are free to create an aggressive game plan that brings pressure from all positions. He’s one of those special guys that are SO good, they have the ability to make his teammates better. Considering the problems the Raiders had on the defensive side of the ball last season, just imagine how bad it would have been without the best corner in the league!
Now that Asomugha is off the market, the rest of the NFL can turn their attention to the rest of the cornerbacks that are going to become free agents this offseason. Ron Bartell, Fakhir Brown (both from St. Louis), Ralph Brown (Arizona) and Phillip Buchanon (Tampa Bay) are all set to test the free agent waters and offer their services to the highest bidder. All of these guys are both good and incredibly underrated, but none of them can do what Asomugha does on a game-by-game basis. He’s a superstar that is the center piece to an entire defense—they are guys that simply play defensive back. It’s a subtle difference, but for all the teams looking to fill holes in their secondary, it’s a HUGE difference.
Well, there’s always the draft.
Matt Reitz
Matt Reitz is an NHL Writer for ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports and the Editor-In-Chief here at ViewFromMySeats.com. When he's not shoving a mic in the face of NHLers or explaining why home teams should wear white, he's usually trying to figure out what song to play next on his iPod. It's a never-ending job.
