After allowing 18 total points in their previous two games, the Las Vegas Raiders defense is playing some of its finest football of the year. The Raiders are overachieving because, according to Spotrac, they have the second-cheapest defense in the NFL.
The group might yet improve in the secondary, though. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report thinks the Raiders should let go of starting safety Marcus Epps in a piece regarding players the team “must cut” after the 2023 campaign.
“Epps’ PFF grade of merely 56.6 is the same as it was for the previous season. Epps has only defended one pass in ten games and has not intercepted any, according to Ballentine’s piece from November 15.
“A large portion of Epps’ $7.3 million cap hit is uncertain. If the Raiders released him this summer, they would save $3.4 million. That could be too good to pass up, especially with a new general manager moving over and trying to bring in his own free agents.
Last summer, former Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler signed Epps to a $12 million, two-year contract. He was selected a team captain and has grown into a team leader. He has just deflected one ball this season and has not recorded an intercept, therefore he has not yet made an impact in coverage.
Whoever the next general manager and head coach is may prefer a safety that brings more to coverage.
Las Vegas Raiders Defense Faces Biggest Test of Season
The Raiders defense is playing well but their last two games were against the New York Giants and Jets, which both have bottom-four offenses in terms of yards per game and points per game this season. Things are about to get much tougher with the team heading to Miami to play the Dolphins.
The Dolphins’ offense is averaging 435.3 yards per game and 31.7 points per game, which are both the best in the NFL. This will be the best offense the Raiders have faced this season. It’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to keep from Miami from scoring a touchdown like they did against the Jets but this is a great test to see if the defense is truly improved.
