Jon Gruden makes his first big cut as Raiders coach
For the second time in a little over two years, cornerback David Amerson has been waived by a Gruden.
The former Redskin was cut by Jay Gruden in the middle of the 2015 season and signed with the Raiders a week later.
Jon Gruden then rejoined the team that gave him his first head coaching job, and his first big move was to cut the same player his brother had previously cut.
Amerson was released Monday after having started 33 games for the Raiders since the 2015 season. His release comes two days before his 2018 contract would have become fully guaranteed.
Per Spotrac, the Raiders will incur no dead money from waiving Amerson now. The move will save more than $21 million in cap space over the next three seasons.
Amerson had signed a four-year, $35 million deal prior to the 2016 season. He started 15 games in that season, led the team in passes defensed and finished second in tackles.
After the Raiders drafted Gareon Conley in the first round in 2017, Amerson was locked in a battle with the rookie for the starting cornerback spot opposite of Sean Smith. Amerson won the battle out of training camp but was limited to just six games due to a foot injury.
The entire Raiders secondary struggled last season no matter who was playing defensive back. The Raiders cornerbacks combined for just two interceptions with the first not coming until Week 15. As a team, Oakland had just five interceptions, which ranked dead last in the NFL.
Even though he played in six games, Amerson still shouldered much of the blame of Oakland’s pass defense. Opposing quarterbacks had a nearly perfect passer rating when throwing at Amerson.
#Raiders release David Amerson. QBs targeting Amerson this year completed 23 of 31 for 391, 4 TDs, 155.6 rating. That was highest rating vs any defender w/ 20+ targets per @SportradarUS
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) February 6, 2018
Amerson was a second-round pick in the 2013 draft while Mike Shanahan was the Redskins coach. He started eight games as a rookie before starting 15 games in Jay Gruden’s first year as coach.
But Amerson lasted just two games into the 2014 season before being cut. The Athletic speculates that Jon Gruden talked with his brother about Amerson before deciding to cut him.
Raiders fans are already envisioning who should replace Amerson at cornerback, and their attention is focused on a recently disgraced New England Patriot.
Malcom Butler you have a call waiting on line 1…
— Raider Nation (@RaiiiDerss) February 5, 2018
Amerson’s release is expected to be the first of many for Gruden during the offseason. Sean Smith could also be cut as his $8.5 million salary in 2018 doesn’t justify his production from 2017.
Veterans Marshawn Lynch, Michael Crabtree and Bruce Irvin are all on the wrong side of 30 and could be let go. Those three along with Smith would save the Raiders another $31 million in cap space.
Gruden has lots of work to do if he wants to lead the Raiders back to the playoffs in what could be their last season in Oakland. The Raiders have made the postseason just four times in the last 24 years, and half of those appearances were during Gruden’s first go-around as head coach.
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