Raiders add Apple to defense upgrades
The Raiders looked to fill a hole at cornerback Wednesday, agreeing to terms with cornerback Eli Apple as the new league year was set to begin, according to a team source.
Apple is the sixth player to be added to the Raiders defense during the free agent negotiating period, joining linebackers Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, defensive end Carl Nassib and safety Jeff Heath.
The five-year veteran turns 25 in August and has played in 55 games with 48 starts for the New York Giants (2016-18) and New Orleans Saints (2018-19). A first-round draft pick out of Ohio State, Apple played in 25 games, all starts, with the Saints the past two years.
Apple has three career interceptions and 33 passes defensed.
Contract terms were unavailable.
Apple (6-foot-1, 203 pounds) has the size, speed and length NFL teams covet, yet probably ranks as the biggest gamble among the Raiders’ free agent haul given that
he will play for his third team in five years.
The Raiders were also believed to be in talks with Denver’s Chris Harris Jr. Harris will reportedly stay within the division, reaching an agreement with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The second cornerback selected in 2016 at No. 10 overall, Apple was picked behind Jalen Ramsey (No. 5 by Jacksonville) and one spot ahead of Vernon Hargreaves (Tampa Bay). Raiders general manager Mike Mayock had Apple ranked as the No. 4 cornerback while working as an NFL Network analyst.
The following was Mayock’s evaluation of Apple heading in to the draft: “He’s got the skill set you want at corner. Long. Fast. He tackles. He’s pretty smart, but he’s as raw as can be. I think he’s going in the second half of the first round.”
It didn’t work out with the Giants as Apple was suspended for the final game of the 2017 season for conduct detrimental to the team and the following season was traded in October to New Orleans for fourth- and seventhround draft picks. Things went better for Apple in New Orleans but not well enough for the Saints to decline a fifth-year option in 2020, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Saints defensive coordinator and former Raiders head coach Dennis Allen had the following evaluation of Apple not long after he was acquired from the Giants:
“I think every opportunity he has to get out there, practice, play, whatever the case may be and get more and more comfortable within the system to where he’s really not thinking about what his job is, he’s just really playing football, I think the better he’s going to be. I’ve seen improvement each and every week and that’s not easy to do, especially for a young player.”
The Raiders will take a third bite at Apple, where he’ll compete to start alongside second-year corneback Trayvon Mullen.
KARL JOSEPH TO BROWNS >> Safety Karl Joseph, a firstround draft pick in the Reggie McKenzie regime in 2016, agreed to a oneyear deal with the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Media.
Joseph is recovering from a Lisfranc injury sustained on Nov. 7. MORROW GETS SECONDROUND TENDER >> Linebacker Nick Morrow, a restricted free agent, received a second-round tender from the Raiders. That greatly reduces the likelihood of getting an offer from another team, which would have to give up a second-round draft pick to get him.
It also means Morrow will still be around to compete for playing time with free agents Littleton and Kwiatkoski aboard.
• Free agents who were given original round tenders were tackle David Sharpe and quarterback Nathan Peterman. Sharpe was a fourth-round pick, Peterman a fifth. If they receive offer sheets and the Raiders decline to match, they would receive the corresponding draft pick.