Marcus Peters

Raiders To Waive CB Marcus Peters

November 27th, 2023 at 12:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

After a long-awaited move which sent him to Vegas ahead of the 2023 season, Marcus Peters is on his way out. The veteran corner has been let go by the Raiders, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

Peters was benched for yesterday’s game against the Chiefs, a move which represented a stark contrast to his usage earlier in the season. The two-time All-Pro logged a snap share of 91% this season while serving as a full-time starter on a Raiders secondary which faced plenty of questions during the summer. It was long expected Peters would eventually sign a deal in advance of the season, and multiple visits culminated in an agreement in July.

The parties worked out a one-year deal with a base value of $3MM. An additional $1.5MM in incentives were present in the contract, though, and Tafur notes Peters was on pace to reach them. As a result, the 30-year-old will now head to waivers; if he clears, he will be free to sign with any interested team. The decision marks an underwhelming end to Peters’ time with the Raiders.

The three-time Pro Bowler earned a reputation as one of the league’s top ballhawks during his time with the Chiefs, Rams and Ravens. Over the course of his tenure with those franchises, Peters totaled 32 interceptions and 92 pass breakups. His brief stint in Vegas, however, resulted in one interception (returned for a touchdown) in Week 8 along with five PBUs.

Peters missed the 2021 season due to a torn ACL, and his return to action in his final year with the Ravens featured a downturn in ball production and issues in coverage. Those seem to have followed him to Vegas, as he has posted a 66.1% completion percentage allowed (the worst mark of his career) along with a 103.2 opposing passer rating as the nearest defender (third-worst). Those figures have contributed to the Raiders’ middling performance in terms of pass defense this season, and the team will elect to cut ties in the second half of the campaign.

Peters had a relatively quiet free agent market in 2023 after the Ravens decided against retaining him. That move allowed his previous three-year, $42MM deal to expire without being extended or renewed at a different rate. A contract at a much lower figure awaited him this summer, and the same will no doubt be true on his next pact. It will be interesting to see if any teams get aggressive in making a claim on Peters given his status as a rental for the stretch run, or if he will go unclaimed and have a free choice of new employers.

AFC Rumors: Quessenberry, Jones, Meyers, Anudike-Uzomah

August 19th, 2023 at 2:10pm CST by Ely Allen

The Bills seemingly signed veteran offensive tackle Brandon Shell with the intention that he would plug in as a full-time starter, much like he had done in Miami, Seattle, and New York over his career. Shell’s sudden retirement decision days ago threw a bit of a wrench in those plans.

At left tackle, Dion Dawkins slots in as the obvious left tackle starter, as he has since his rookie year. The starter across from him, for right now, is currently Spencer Brown. Brown has started 24 games over his first two years in the league, but the ability of the former third-round pick to start long term has yet to be proven.

If Brown struggles or if he or Dawkins go down with injury, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports that David Quessenberry is expected to slot into the primary backup, swing tackle role. Buffalo doesn’t have a ton of depth beyond Quessenberry, and this late in the season, that’s not too likely to change.

Tommy Doyle and Ryan Van Demark both sit on the depth chart behind Quessenberry and should make a push for the initial 53-man roster, if not solely due to the lack of depth. But Quessenberry should be the first name off the bench in the case that Brown or Dawkins aren’t there for any reason.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of the AFC, starting with another team in the AFC East:

The Patriots have been operating the past two weeks without veteran starting cornerback Jonathan Jones. The long-time staple in New England’s secondary has been absent with an undisclosed injury. Luckily, whatever the ailment is, Karen Guregian of MassLive reports that Jones is expected to be back for the team’s regular season opener. The Patriots are reportedly being careful with him, but the plan is for him to be starting a couple Sundays from now.
Last month, the Raiders concluded a deal that would eventually help them bring in veteran cornerback Marcus Peters. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the team converted $3.92MM of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers‘s base salary for 2023 into a signing bonus and added two voidable years. The move takes his base salary down from $5MM in 2023 to $1.08MM but freed up $3.14MM of cap space, helping Las Vegas to continue building their roster this offseason.
Staying in the AFC West, the rich got richer when the Super Bowl Champion Chiefs added Kansas State pass rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah at the end of the first round this past April. Most of the team’s pass rushing comes from interior lineman Chris Jones, but with Frank Clark gone, a starting role was open across from George Karlaftis III. Kansas City signed Charles Omenihu to potentially fill that role, but he is set to serve a six-game suspension to start the season. Still, according to The Athletic contributor Nate Taylor’s recent update, the plan for Anudike-Uzomah appears to be for him to appear out of a rotation. The team may explore adding an additional veteran pass rusher to help holdover the role in Omenihu’s absence, but in the long run, they don’t want to rush Anudike-Uzomah out on the field until he’s ready.

Raiders, CB Marcus Peters Agree To Deal

July 24th, 2023 at 4:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Monday’s second workout with veteran cornerback Marcus Peters has resulted in a Raiders deal. The sides agreed to terms on a one-year deal Monday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan tweets that it is a $3MM contract worth up to $5MM.

Peters has long been connected to Vegas this offseason, and it comes as no surprise that a deal has materialized at the onset of training camp. The 30-year-old met with the Raiders earlier today, and he will now look to add a playmaking element to the team’s secondary after a productive stint in Baltimore.

An ACL tear ended his 2021 season before it began, so Peters faced plenty of question marks upon his return last year. He suited up for 13 regular season games as well as the Ravens’ wild-card loss, but his performance fell short of the form he had previously shown with the team. The two-time All-Pro (who has 32 career picks) was limited to only one interception, the lowest single-season total of his career.

In addition, Peters struggled in coverage, surrendering seven touchdowns as the nearest defender and allowing a passer rating of 113.7. Those figures led to his lengthy stay on the open market, and a general lack of interest on Baltimore’s part to re-sign him. The Ravens went in a different direction, signing former Raider and Colt Rock Ya-Sin on a one-year, low-cost deal.

Peters will look to showcase a return to full mobility another year removed from the ACL tear in a new home, one which will allow him to see signficant playing time. The Raiders’ interest in him was a sign of their need for a starting-caliber addition at the CB spot. Before news of the Peters deal broke, Rapoport reported the team also hosted fellow veteran Troy Hill on a free agent workout (Twitter link).

It remains to be seen what awaits the latter now that Peters is on board, but the Raiders have a potential buy-low upgrade for their secondary. Vegas ranked 29th against the pass in 2022, and their six interceptions placed second-last. If Peters can return to form, he should help in both categories while the Raiders look to take a needed step forward in 2023.

Raiders Hosted CB Marcus Peters

July 22nd, 2023 at 9:57am CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders are giving another look at Marcus Peters. After auditioning the veteran cornerback earlier this offseason, the Raiders hosted Peters on another visit earlier this week, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

The 30-year-old visited Vegas back in May, and there was an expectation that the two sides would eventually agree on a contract. Months later, a deal still hasn’t materialized, although we heard recently that the Raiders would circle back to potential cornerback acquisitions before training camp.

Part of the delay could be attributed to Peters’ health, as we previously heard the Raiders were in no particular rush to sign the veteran as they evaluated his readiness for the 2023 campaign. Peters suffered a torn ACL in 2021 that wiped out that entire season, and his comeback in 2022 led some to wonder if the cornerback may still be dealing with some knee issues.

The cornerback got into 13 games for the Ravens this past season, finishing with a career-low one interception to go along with 47 tackles and six passes defended. Peters was also responsible for seven touchdowns as the nearest defender and surrendered a passer rating of 113.7. Each of those totals were career-worst marks, and it ultimately led to the Ravens’ decision to look elsewhere on the veteran corner market by signing Rock Ya-Sin.

While Peters’ performance left plenty to be desired in Baltimore, the Raiders would simply be eyeing the veteran for his experience…not his former All-Pro pedigree. As of right now, Duke Shelley, who started five games for the Vikings last season, and Nate Hobbs, who has started 20 games over the past two seasons for the Raiders, are the projected starters on the outside for the Raiders, leaving journeyman Tyler Hall as the favorite for the main slot role. The Raiders are also rostering the likes of Brandon Facyson, who is signed to a two-year contract, and fourth-round rookie Jakorian Bennett, so the team could want to evaluate their depth during the preseason before jumping into an addition at the position.

Latest On Raiders’ CB Depth

July 10th, 2023 at 9:29pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders cornerbacks depth chart isn’t any clearer now than it was a few months ago. Earlier this offseason, the Raiders hosted Marcus Peters, and it seemed like the former All-Pro CB was destined to join the organization.

Fast forward to the middle of July and a contract still hasn’t materialized. However, the inaction from the front office doesn’t mean the Raiders are necessarily content with their in-house options. As Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes, the Raiders are still expected to add either Peters “or another veteran free agent” at the position.

For the time being, the Raiders are left with a questionable depth chart at cornerback. Tafur projects that Duke Shelley, who started five games for the Vikings last season, and Nate Hobbs, who has started 20 games over the past two seasons for the Raiders, will be the starters on the outside. That configuration would likely provide journeyman Tyler Hall with an inside track at the main slot role.

Further down the depth chart, Tafur opines that Brandon Facyson will have a safety net with his two-year contract (plus his experience in a Gus Bradley defense). The Raiders also used a fourth-round pick on Jakorian Bennett, and the rookie could end up emerging as one of the team’s top options at the position. When you account for the five aforementioned cornerbacks and a potential acquisition, that means Amik Robertson could be fighting for a roster spot heading into the 2023 campaign.

The 2020 fourth-round pick was in and out of the lineup through his first two seasons in the NFL, but he took on a bigger role with a new coaching staff in 2022. Robertson ended up starting seven of his 17 appearances, finishing with 38 tackles and two passes defended.

There is some depth here, and that could explain why the organization hasn’t jumped into a deal with any free agents. When it comes to Peters in particular, we previously heard that the front office would take their time as they monitored the veteran’s health. A 2021 ACL tear has led to questions about Peters’ ability to return to the form he showed earlier in his career, and those questions continue to persist following a rough 2022 campaign with the Ravens.

Ravens Not Likely To Push For CB Marcus Peters

July 3rd, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

When veteran cornerback Marcus Peters‘s contract expired at the end of the season, the starting cornerback spot across from Marlon Humphrey became a big point of concern for Ravens fans. Aside from times when one or the other was injured, Peters and Humphrey have manned the boundary corner positions in Baltimore together since 2019. While not completely out of the realm of possibility, it’s not looking likely to continue into 2023, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.

In a mailbag Q&A, Zrebiec fielded several questions from fans inquiring about the likelihood of Peters returning to Baltimore. Peters struggled a bit in his return from an ACL tear that held him out of the entire 2021 season. He still served as a starting-caliber cornerback that could limit damage, but his playmaking, shutdown defense was nowhere to be found in 2022. Now two years removed from seeing Peters playing his best football, the Ravens haven’t shown any sign of prioritizing the return of the 30-year-old.

Peters visited the Raiders in mid-May and has remained in close contact with the team, but as of yet, no deal seems certain. Zrebiec points out that there’s no risk in Peters waiting. Better offers or opportunities may still come his way and, until camps start, there’s truly no rush.

In Baltimore, the Ravens eventually addressed the hole in the roster by signing Rock Ya-Sin. Ya-Sin doesn’t have the resume that Peters does, but he’s younger and has shown better football more recently than Peters. Even with Ya-Sin on the roster, Baltimore still didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing Peters back. They know he fits in the locker room, but in order for him to return, he’s going to have to be realistic on his value.

In a market bereft of lockdown, star cornerback talent, Peters may be one of the top options, but he’s not so good that he’ll earn past his value. The Ravens could certainly still make a different addition to the room before training camp. Several veterans remain free agents, such as Ronald Darby, Byron Jones, Bryce Callahan, Casey Hayward, and former Raven Anthony Averett. If Peters isn’t willing to meet the Ravens halfway on a new contract, Baltimore has plenty of other avenues they can explore.

The team also seems to like what they have in house right now, even going so far as to move Brandon Stephens back to his rookie position of safety following a season at cornerback last year. They’re hoping to see big jumps in the sophomore seasons of Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis and know they have serviceable depth pieces in Daryl Worley and Kevon Seymour. They also re-signed Trayvon Mullen and added Kyu Blu Kelly in the fifth round of the draft. They may want to bolster the room with a veteran who can slot in as CB3 still, but if they miss out on Peters because of value, they won’t beat themselves up too much over it.

So, for now, it appears most likely that Peters is Vegas bound. He appears to be waiting out the options, and the Ravens appear to be open to his return without pushing past their limits. A return to Baltimore isn’t impossible, but it will need to feel right with both sides.

Latest On Raiders, CB Marcus Peters

June 22nd, 2023 at 9:01am CST by Adam La Rose

With minicamps having been completed, many teams and free agents are in a holding pattern in the build-up to training camps opening next month. In the case of the Raiders and cornerback Marcus Peters, that appears likely to continue.

The two parties have been connected since May, when the 30-year-old visited Vegas. That led to the expectation a deal could soon follow, something which would come as little surprise given Peters’ track record and the question marks the Raiders face at the CB spot. Nothing has materialized yet, but the two-time All-Pro remains on the teams’ radar.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal confirms that a Raiders pact remains a distinct possibility for Peters at some point in the summer. He adds that Vegas is in no hurry to make a serious push at finalizing a contract, however, as the team continues to evaluate the three-time Pro Bowler’s health in particular. A 2021 ACL tear has led to questions about his ability to return to the form he showed earlier in his career.

The injury cost Peters the entire 2021 campaign, and its effects appeared to linger this past season. The Washington alum played 14 regular and postseason games, but he was held to a career-low one interception and just six pass deflections. Given his history as one the league’s premier ballhawks, those figures are understandably a cause for concern on the part of the Raiders or other interested teams.

In addition, Peters struggled in coverage in 2022, allowing seven touchdowns as the nearest defender and surrendering a passer rating of 113.7. Each of those totals were the worst in his career, and helped inform the Ravens’ decision to look elsewhere on the veteran corner market by signing Rock Ya-Sin. That move has left Peters on the open market into June, and his wait may continue for many more weeks.

The Raiders signed Duke Shelley, David Long and Brandon Facyson in free agency, then used a fourth-round selection in this year’s draft on Jakorian Bennett. Those newcomers will be tasked with helping the team’s secondary take a needed step forward, but a healthy Peters would provide a starting-caliber option alongside them. The point at which the latter joins the team (if at all) will likely be no earlier than July, though.

Raiders Remain Interested In Marcus Peters

June 14th, 2023 at 12:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marcus Peters‘ Raiders visit occurred nearly a month ago. No deal materialized, leaving Las Vegas with questions at cornerback. While the team signed a few veterans this offseason, all were low-cost additions.

The team is not out on Peters, however, and Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes the team is likely to sign the former All-Pro before training camp (subscription required). The Raiders and Peters have kept in touch since the eight-year veteran’s mid-May visit, and while Tafur adds other corners are on the team’s list, Peters looks to be the most likely veteran move the team will make.

Las Vegas has added Duke Shelley, David Long and Brandon Facyson this offseason. While reasons for optimism exist with this contingent, the Raiders lost their most seasoned starter at the position — Rock Ya-Sin — from another defense that ranked near the NFL’s basement. Patrick Graham‘s first Vegas unit ranked 26th in points allowed — the Raiders’ 20th consecutive season ranked 20th or worse in this area — and 31st in DVOA. Although the Raiders bolstered their pass rush by drafting Tyree Wilson seventh overall, they could use a proven cover man.

An Oakland native who supported the Raiders growing up, Peters has 103 career starts on his resume despite missing the 2021 season. Even with the missed season, Peters’ 32 interceptions still lead the NFL — by four — since his 2015 rookie year. Peters, 30, did not play on a Pro Bowl level last season. He allowed a 113.7 passer rating as the closest defender in coverage — his worst mark as a Raven — and surrendered seven touchdown receptions despite missing four games. But Pro Football Focus did not view the veteran to have slipped too far; the advanced metrics site slotted Peters 49th among corners last year.

The inconsistent 2022 season likely represents the main reason Peters is still available. Although age is now a factor for the veteran ballhawk, he will be two years removed from the ACL tear by Week 1. The 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Peters has two first-team All-Pro nods on his resume and has led the NFL in INT return yardage three times. While the brash boundary corner offers a boom-or-bust play style, he would supply the Raiders with far more experience than any of their current options bring.

Other available outside corners include Ronald Darby, Casey Hayward, William Jackson, Eli Apple and Ahkello Witherspoon. Hayward spent the 2021 season with the Raiders, following Gus Bradley to Vegas. He joins Jackson, Darby and Witherspoon in being offseason cap casualties. Peters should be considered the top option, and it should be expected more Raiders connections will follow closer to training camp.

CB Marcus Peters To Visit Raiders

May 15th, 2023 at 12:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

A new deal allowing Marcus Peters to remain in Baltimore could still be in the cards. The veteran corner has other options to consider, however, including a move to the Raiders.

Peters is visiting Las Vegas today, reports Vic Tafur of The Athletic (Twitter link). That news comes not long after Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Baltimore is still open to re-signing the 30-year-old at some point this offseason. The Raiders represent a logical landing spot if a new Ravens deal is not worked out, though.

Vegas saw 2022 trade acquisition Rock Ya-Sin sign with the Ravens earlier this week, giving them a potential Peters replacement. The former’s departure came after Anthony Averett‘s deal expired, leaving another vacancy at the CB spot for the Raiders; Averett remains unsigned. Both he and Ya-Sin occupied notable roles during their time with the Raiders, a team which struggled against the pass on defense last season.

That resulted in a number of free agent cornerback additions so far this offseason, including a reunion with Brandon Facyson and deals with Duke Shelley and David Long. The Raiders also used a fourth-round pick in the draft to add Jakorian Bennett, who should be in line for at least a rotational role for years to come as the team looks to rebuild on the backend. The signing of safety Marcus Epps could go a long way on that front, but a healthy Peters likely would as well.

The two-time All-Pro has remained one of the league’s top ballhawks for much of his career, notching 32 interceptions in 104 career games. He missed all of 2021 with a torn ACL, however, and struggled upon his return to the field last season with only one pick and poor performances in coverage. If he were to return to his pre-injury form, though, a short-term deal at a modest rate could prove to be worth the risk for Vegas. As the post-draft wave of free agency continues, Peters shouldn’t have to wait much longer to sign his next deal, with the Raiders or another team.

Ravens Remain Open To Re-Signing CB Marcus Peters

May 9th, 2023 at 11:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Baltimore entered (and exited) the draft with a roster hole at the cornerback position. They appeared to fill it with the signing of Rock Ya-Sin, but further moves could be coming, including a reunion with a notable veteran still on the market.

Head coach John Harbaugh indicated, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, that the Ravens could still be in search of an addition to their CB room (subscription required). He specifically named Marcus Peters, who has spent three-plus years in Baltimore, as a potential target. “You don’t close the door on good players and good people,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Peters, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Rams in 2019, a move which proved to be fruitful for Baltimore in their attempt to add a productive compliment to Marlon Humphrey. Peters notched three interceptions in 10 games that year, and signed a three-year, $42MM deal in the offseason. His performance the following season pointed to that investment being a sound one.

The former Chiefs first-rounder racked up four interceptions in 2020, adding further to his status as the league’s premier ball hawk at the position. An ACL tear cost him the entire 2021 campaign, however, and he appeared to be less than fully recovered from the injury this past season. Peters had just one interception in 2022 (the lowest total of his career), while allowing seven touchdowns in coverage and encountering penalty trouble.

The two-time All-Pro did still log a 92% snap share, however, making him a key figure in the Ravens’ secondary. Baltimore was reportedly looking to work out a deal with Peters before free agency, one which would surely come in at a lower figure than the $14MM AAV of his previous one. The Washington product has not received much interest from the Ravens or another team since then, however.

Fifth-rounder Kyu Blu Kelly was the lone addition made at the CB spot by the Ravens in the draft, which led to the expectation that a veteran move would soon follow. To no surprise, Ya-Sin followed up a second visit with the team by inking a one-year, $6MM contract to give them team a new starting option. Peters remains unsigned into the third wave of free agency, along with the likes of Shaquill Griffin, Eli Apple, Troy Hill and Ronald Darby. He may need to find a new home for 2023 depending on where the other top options land, but the possibility remains for Peters to continue his tenure in Baltimore.

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