Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman/GettyImages
When the Las Vegas Raiders signed safety Jeremy Chinn in March, they weren’t just getting a defensive back — they were getting a do-it-all playmaker. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham sees Chinn as a key piece in his system thanks to his size, speed, and ability to play multiple positions.
Since entering the NFL in 2020, Chinn has lined up all over the field. In 71 games (67 starts), he’s played more than 1,000 snaps at safety and outside linebacker, nearly 400 at inside linebacker, and over 900 in the slot.
“I think it started early on in my rookie season,” Chinn said. “Just being in a situation where I was asked to do a lot of certain things and just kind of made my mindset like, this is the life of the NFL, like, there’s going to be a lot of different roles, a lot of different roles, a lot of different responsibilities. So I just kind of took that and rode with it for the rest of my career.”
Filling the Gap Left by Moehrig
Las Vegas lost starting safety Tre’von Moehrig in free agency after he signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. But the Raiders believe Chinn can help fill that void — and maybe even bring more to the table.
Graham praised Chinn’s work ethic and leadership.
“Just in terms of his leadership, he’s very sure of himself because he puts in the work,” Graham said. “And he’s been a sponge in terms of learning how we want to do things, and then all the physical attributes, but all 32 teams know about that. The speed, the size, physicality, ability to tackle and nose for the ball. It’s all been positive there.”
Chinn’s Journey and Strengths
Chinn signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Raiders after spending four years in Carolina and one with Washington. Last season, he started 17 games for the Commanders and had a career-best 117 tackles.
He often played as a hybrid safety-linebacker, lining up closer to the line of scrimmage where he became a strong run defender. He tied for seventh among all safeties with 26 run stops — plays that resulted in a win for the defense.
In 2023, Moehrig also played near the line and had 30 run stops and 13 quarterback pressures. The Raiders hope Chinn can match that production and more.
“I feel like I can affect the game in a lot of ways,” Chinn said. “In this defense, it’s allowing me to do that.”
Pass Coverage Will Be Key
While Chinn is a proven tackler, coverage is an area to watch. Last season, opposing quarterbacks targeted him 43 times, completing 28 passes for 354 yards and five touchdowns. His passer rating allowed was 119.7.
By comparison, Moehrig gave up fewer yards (249), had two interceptions, and held quarterbacks to a 92.8 rating.
Still, the Raiders believe Chinn can improve in coverage and offer help at other spots, including nickel corner. Right now, Darnay Holmes is the top option at nickel, but he has only 12 starts in 70 games.
Las Vegas may add another cornerback before training camp, but they’re confident in Chinn’s ability to step into that role when needed.
“He’s like a big nickel,” GM John Spytek said. “You love his size on the edge, his ability to blitz [and] support the run. Then he’s a guy that can still drop and play as part of the deep coverage, too.”
Early Signs Are Promising
Chinn is already making plays in practice. At organized team activities (OTAs), he intercepted Geno Smith during a pass over the middle to Jakobi Meyers. A few days later, he broke up another Smith pass intended for tight end Michael Mayer by sticking tight to his man and timing his move perfectly.
“He’s got such an amazing skill set for a man of his size,” Spytek said. “And you love the intelligence and the instincts that go with it.”
With a new team, a flexible role, and a coaching staff that believes in him, Chinn looks ready to be a major piece in the Raiders’ defense in 2025.
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This report used information from ESPN.
