Raiders reportedly tryout four defensive backs

It appears that the Raiders are looking to simultaneously beef up their defensive back and special teams depth, as Jon Gruden and Co. reportedly hosted tryouts for four defensive backs on Friday, per Howard Balzer.

Those brought in included safeties Nat Berhe, Godwin Igwebuike, and Derrick Kindred in addition to rookie cornerback Jordan Brown. The Silver & Black Nation seems to have embraced Berhe already, quickly changing his Wikipedia bio in hopes of a signing.

Berhe is a Fontana, California native who played for three years with the New York Giants at both safety spots before spending 2018 in Pittsburgh.

If the Raiders really are looking for special teams versatility, Kindred is actually the most likely signing. At 5-foot-10, he’s the only player among the group that isn’t exactly 6-feet tall, but the TCU product is the hardest hitter and most physical of the bunch.

Kindred struggles in coverage and is more of a “break glass in case of emergency” type of safety on defense, but he’s a punishing, intimidating force as a hitter.

Igwebuike latched on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted grinder out of Northwestern. He tested in the 96th percentile at the 2018 combine with a 6.56-second 3-cone drill time and has drawn reviews as an ideal locker-room guy across four practice squad stops with the Bucs, 49ers, Eagles and Jets.

The lone cornerback, Brown, was a seventh-round pick this offseason, selected No. 223 overall by Cincinnati. Drafted out of South Dakota State, Brown was expected to be taken in the Third Round by prognosticators, but fell dramatically. He was waived during final cuts on Aug 31. and was not signed to the practice squad after clearing waivers.

He is the most intriguing of the Sept. 27 tryouts, as Brown could become a starter if healthy and given the proper seasoning.