Former Cincinnati Bengals safety Reggie Nelson has signed a two-year contract with Oakland Raiders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The move comes three days after the Raiders inked troubled defensive end Aldon Smith to a two-year deal.
After 1st Pro Bowl berth, Reggie Nelson signs with the Raiders
Nelson earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2015, his ninth NFL season.
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Nelson, 32, earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2015 by leading the NFL in interceptions and recording a career-best 14 passes defended. A first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2007 NFL Draft, Nelson was acquired by the Bengals in exchange for cornerback David Jones, who made just five starts in Jacksonville after the trade.
While Nelson intercepted just seven passes in his three seasons with the Jaguars, he eclipsed that total in 2015 alone and has developed into one of the NFL’s best safeties. After his first two seasons with the Bengals, he signed a four-year, $18 million contract in 2012.
Many felt that the Bengals would opt to use the franchise tag on Nelson, but instead they let him hit the free agent market. At his age, one last payday was expected and earned after his 2015 campaign, but there will always be questions about how much he has left in the tank at this stage of his career.
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