ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - Free agent cornerback Vontae Davis has met with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders about upgrading their secondaries.
A person familiar with Davis’ plans says he met with the Raiders on Wednesday after meeting with 49ers the previous day. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the meetings were not made public. Davis has also reportedly met with Cleveland and Buffalo
Davis is a two-time Pro Bowler who is on the open market after being released by Indianapolis last November. Because he was cut, Davis can sign with a team immediately instead of waiting for the start of the new league year next month.
Davis lost his starting job midway through last season and then did not travel with the team for a game in Houston for “non-injury” reasons. Davis was then cut a few days later.
Davis said before the release that he had been hampered all season by a torn groin suffered in the third preseason game but the Colts said they were unaware of lingering problems from the injury.
Opposing quarterbacks had a 79.5 passer rating when targeting Davis in 2015-16, according to SportRadar. But he struggled last season, allowing a 105.7 rating.
Davis spent his first three seasons with Miami after being a first-round pick in 2009. He was traded to the Colts before the 2012 season and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and ’15.
Davis has 22 career interceptions with 97 passes defensed and two sacks.
The Raiders and 49ers are both in need of upgrades at cornerback. San Francisco could lose starter Dontae Johnson in free agency next month after having traded Rashard Robinson during the season. The only cornerbacks under contract who played more than a handful of snaps last season are 2017 third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon and slot cornerback K’Waun Williams.
Oakland released starter David Amerson earlier this month and could also cut starter Sean Smith in order to create more salary cap room. Slot cornerback TJ Carrie is eligible to be a free agent, leaving last year’s first-round pick Gareon Conley as the only projected starter currently under contract. C0nley played just two games as a rookie because of injuries.
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