Sean

Smith

Oakland was reportedly involved in the market for Janoris Jenkins, but he has agreed to terms with the Giants. The Raiders will now turn to Smith, who is a more consistent and likely cheaper option. Rapoport reports the Chiefs are not out of the running for Smith yet, and the 49ers are also reportedly interested.

Smith would fit either club as a plus-sized (6'4/214) press-man corner. Smith is expected to command $8 million to $10 million annually, and both San Francisco and Oakland are positioned well to meet an asking price like that.

Signed to a four-year, $40 million deal in 2016, Smith never lived up to his contract with the Raiders, getting benched in literally his first game with the team. He was also charged with assault last August. Cutting him saves Oakland $8.5 million against the cap.

Smith was charged with felony assault last August after allegedly attacking his sister’s boyfriend. Fenno reports Smith will plead guilty to the charge and accept one year of jail time along with three years of probation. The corner was released by the Raiders on Monday.

Smith underwent shoulder surgery in January to fix an issue which bothered him over the second half of the season, but he is good to go now. Signed to a four-year, $40-million deal last offseason, Smith started his Raiders career by literally being benched in Week 1, but he turned in a reasonably effective season despite the inauspicious start. Now healthy, Smith promises to be “the Sean of old.”

The incident allegedly occurred over the July 4 holiday. Officials are saying Smith attacked his sister’s boyfriend, beating and stomping on the victim’s head. Smith is officially being charged with “felony assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury.” He could face up to seven years in prison. NFL Network reported earlier Thursday that Smith has been benched and lost his starting job to T.J. Carrie.

This started to happen at the beginning of camp, and now it looks official. Signed to a four-year, $40-million contract last March, Smith rebounded somewhat after being burnt to a crisp and benched his first game with the Raiders, but things have apparently not improved this offseason. He is still seeing snaps in nickel packages, but that may change once first-rounder Gareon Conley (leg) returns to health.

“I think we’ll let him battle legally what issues he has,” Del Rio said. “Obviously, things occurred that were taken issue with, so he’s having to defend himself right now.” It looks like the Raiders buy Smith’s side of the story and will stand behind him even after he was arrested and charged with felony assault last week. Even without the legal issues, Smith has been struggling on the field and reportedly lost his starting job to T.J. Carrie.

Gareon Conley is expected to get some extra reps in this game for his NFL debut.

Disappointing as a 2016 free agent investment, Smith has begun losing reps at outside cornerback to T.J. Carrie, who is now bookending LCB David Amerson with the first team. Smith worked as the second-team right corner in Friday and Saturday’s practices, then played nickel linebacker in the Raiders’ dime package in Sunday’s session. Smith is guaranteed $9.5 million in 2017.