Secondary still a sore spot as Raiders search for answers

ALAMEDA - If D.J. Hayden had developed into a star and a couple of free agent cornerbacks had made a Pro Bowl or two, then general manager Reggie McKenzie would be off the hook.

Instead, last season’s NFL executive of the year goes into the 2017 season as the man whose personnel department can’t corner the market when it comes to blanketing outside receivers.

Which is why first-round draft pick Gareon Conley, McKenzie’s second big swing in the draft at cornerback since joining the Raiders, is so important. The Raiders look like they can score with anyone but too often the secondary is as wide open as the drive from Nevada to Utah.

The fan base, or at least the ones that partake in social media, are prematurely livid. The Raiders have Conley, whose shin injury prevented him from practicing until last week, when they could have had Alabama linebacker Rueben Foster.

Foster went No. 31 to the 49ers, seven picks after the Raiders snagged Conley, who at the time was the subject of rape allegations which won’t be prosecuted after a grand jury determined there wasn’t enough evidence.

While Conley watched throughout the exhibition season, Foster was a heat-seeking missile, heir to the Patrick Willis-NaVorro Bowman throne.

All of which means little in the long term, because if Conley begins intercepting passes and Foster’s pre-existing shoulder condition gives way on one of his collisions, the same social and traditional media critics of McKenzie will instead be raising a glass in his honor.

It’s a fact the Raiders value a cornerback more than a linebacker, and they’re not alone. Today’s NFL is won or lost in the secondary with the ability to match up defensively when the field is spread out, sort of a basketball concept on a football field.

The problem is that the Raiders under McKenzie have precious few bull’s-eyes when it comes to identifying cornerbacks.

Hayden, taken No. 12 overall in 2013, was McKenzie’s initial first-round draft pick and was coming off a serious practice injury to a vein leading to his heart that nearly killed him.

The Raiders loved Hayden’s feet, speed and ability to change direction, but he couldn’t stay healthy for long stretches, seldom located the ball in time and then tended to grab and commit penalties.

Hayden is in Detroit now, where he’s making a run at being the Lions’ nickel corner.

The other corners drafted by McKenzie leading up to Conley were Keith McGill (later moved to safety) in the fourth round in 2014, T.J. Carrie in the seventh round in 2014 and Dexter McDonald, a seventh-round pick in 2015.

Free agency has also been a challenge. Included were Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer in 2012, Mike Jenkins, Tracy Porter and Joselio Hanson in 2013 and Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers in 2014.

McKenzie’s biggest win was getting David Amerson as a waiver claim after he was let go by Washington. Amerson had an excellent 2015 season, wasn’t as good a year ago and is now in concussion protocol for the second time in two seasons.

Free agency brought Sean Smith aboard from Kansas City last season. Smith was benched in his first game against New Orleans after giving up a 98-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks. He had a stretch in which he played adequately, but not up to the four-year, $40 million standard as set by his contract. Smith is currently waiting arraignment on felony assault and battery charges.

Although interceptions aren’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to evaluating cornerback play, it’s worth noting Raiders cornerbacks have 25 interceptions in 80 games since McKenzie arrived. Never fewer than four interceptions as a group, never more than six.

During that span, a cornerback has led the NFL in interceptions every year but one and each time has had more interceptions as an individual than the Raiders cornerbacks have had en masse.

Given that the Raiders are down to sorting through castoffs for roster additions barring a surprise trade, they need Conley to be a difference-maker, and they need it to happen fairly quickly.

Considering the time Conley has missed and the pressure he’ll be under, it’s a lot to ask.

But the Raiders will ask anyway, as will their fans, who will reluctantly be paying close attention what Foster does in Santa Clara.

ROSTER CUTS

Outside linebacker Shilique Calhoun, a third-round pick in 2016 who became the highest-drafted player in the McKenzie era who to be waived before his second season, was added to the practice squad, according to the official NFL wire.

It’s at least a mild surprise that Calhoun, given his draft status, was not claimed by another team for a look-see.

Other players added were defensive end Fadol Brown, tight end Pharaoh Brown, wide receiver Keon Hatcher, running back Elijah Hood, guard Jordan Simmons and wide receiver Isaac Whitney. LaTroy Lewis, a standout in exhibition games, signed with the Houston Texans’ practice squad.

The Raiders were awarded no players on waivers and were No. 24 in terms of priority, meaning it’s possible they put in a claim but lost to a team that had an inferior record last year.

One Raiders player was claimed, as the Indianapolis Colts placed Ian Silberman on their 53-man roster.

If the Raiders place Denver Kirkland and/or McGill on injured reserve, one or two spots would be open on the 53-man roster.