If you'll recall, coming into training camp, there was only two cornerback jobs that looked to be locked in. That was Eric Stokes -- who re-signed to a big deal this offseason -- and Taron Johnson -- who the team acquired in trade. That filled the needs at right cornerback and in the slot. But the left side was wide open.
The main suitors for that job were Darien Porter, Decamerion Richardson and rookies Jermod McCoy and Hezekiah Masses.
For Porter and Richardson it was a battle of guys who both started as rookies. For McCoy and Masses it was rookies trying to do what the other two had done.
The rookies didn't prove they were quite ready, but being promising drafted players usually gives a player an advantage when making a roster. And Porter won
the starting job. This left two things they needed from the final cornerback on the roster. Darrell Luter Jr. apparently had those qualities they felt Decamerion Richardson did not.
"Darrell [Luter Jr.]'s a good football player. He's played quality regular season snaps," said GM John Spytek. "He's a good special teams player, and we just saw the opportunity to add a player that's got a little bit of experience to him to that room because we've got a very competitive room, but some young players in there. So, his experience is what was intriguing to us."
Experience
Jermod McCoy is immensely talented, but he fell to day three of the draft because he hadn't set foot on a football field since 2024. He is not ready to be the next man up at the cornerback spot. Likewise, fifth rounder Zeke Masses will need some work, with just one season of high end production and a need to bulk up his 185-pound frame.
Best cast scenario is a cornerback they feel comfortable can be the next man up. Richardson didn't see a single snap on defense until the final few plays of the season when the Raiders' sat their best players. Luter started three games last season and saw action on defense in five other games as well. And that was on a far more talented 49ers team.
Solid special teams play
Richardson drew the ire of his head coach in the second preseason game when he ran out of bounds on a punt and then touched the ball first, drawing a flag and killing what would have, and should have, been great field position. Judging him based on that alone would be unfair. Especially considering his ten special teams tackles last season were second on the team. But no one ever said these evaluations are always fair.
Luter, on the other hand, has 11 tackles a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on special teams over three seasons.
To be honest, there were a lot of similarities between Richardson and Luter. But in the end, it's about what have they done lately. Luter has played more defensive snaps lately and led the 49ers this preseason with four pass breakups. Half of those came against the Raiders in Las Vegas in the finale. That plus Luter checking those key boxes had the Raiders joining four other teams and putting in a claim for him.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 2 key qualities led to Raiders using waiver claim on CB Darrell Luter Jr
