Breaking: Rashaan Melvin signs 1-year deal with Raiders

The word Raiders fans have been eagerly awaiting all day has finally come down. Rashaan Melvin is a Raider. The free agent corner has signed a 1-year deal with the team, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The deal is worth $6.5 million, which is a pretty fair price for the 4-year veteran cornerback. It’s not a long term deal, but as Reggie McKenzie has proven in the past, should Melvin play well, he could get an extension to stick around.

Melvin was one of, if not THE last decent looking cornerback still available in free agency. At this point, the 6-2, 193-pounder would be expected to start across from 2017 top pick Gareon Conley as the Raiders must completely revamp their cornerback unit.

A former undrafted free agent, Melvin has bounced around to five different teams in four years. After being released in by the Dolphins for a second time in their final 2016 roster cuts, he joined the Colts and would end up starting 9 games that season. Last season, he would start all ten games in which he appeared before being lost for the season with a hand injury. He had all of his career 3 interceptions last season along with 13 passes defended.

Also signed today was veteran cornerback Shareece Wright who will compete for the nickel cornerback spot vacated by the departure of TJ Carrie who signed a 4-year deal with the Browns worth and average of $7.75 per season.

UPDATE: This deal is now official

Also see: Rashaan Melvin talks big game, says he’s ready to ‘dominate the league’