National Football League

Raiders agree to two-year deal with safety Young

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:18 p.m. ET

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ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Raiders agreed Saturday on a two-year deal to keep free-agent safety Usama Young after an injury-shortened first year in Oakland.

Agent Andy Simms said on Twitter that Young will sign the deal to stay in Oakland. The Raiders have not made an announcement because the contract has not yet been signed.

Young joined Oakland last season on a one-year deal with expectations to become the starting free safety. But a little more than a month after signing Young, the Raiders signed Charles Woodson to a one-year deal to fill that spot.

Young moved into a backup role and played well when he got his chance on defense and special teams. He started once in his 12 games before being placed on injured reserve with a neck injury in December.

With Woodson a free agent and uncertain to return to Oakland, Young could get another chance to start this season.

The 29-year-old Young had one interception, three passes defensed and 2 sacks last season with the Raiders, playing about one-quarter of the defensive snaps when healthy.

Young spent his first four seasons in New Orleans when Oakland coach Dennis Allen ran the secondary for the Saints. The two won a Super Bowl in New Orleans following the 2009 season.

Young then played two years in Cleveland before joining Oakland. He has eight interceptions, five sacks and 25 passes defensed in 2013 career games.

Young is the fifth defensive player signed so far in free agency by the Raiders, joining defensive linemen Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley and Antonio Smith and cornerback Tarell Brown.

While Oakland is a rebuilding process following 11 straight non-winning seasons and two years of being severely hampered by the salary cap, their moves so far on defense have been mostly short-term fixes. All five players signed are at least 29 years old.

But the Raiders had plenty of holes they needed to fill on defense. Starting defensive linemen LaMarr Houston and Vance Walker have already left as free agents, while Pat Sims and Jason Hunter are still on the market.

Cornerback Tracy Porter signed with Washington and fellow starter Mike Jenkins and Woodson are still free agents.

Bringing back Young will give some stability to a unit that likely will have new starters at all four defensive line spots, as well as both cornerback positions.

The Raiders showed signs of progress on defense early last season before wilting late in the year and allowing the second-most points per game (28.3) in franchise history. Oakland has had two of the three highest-scoring seasons allowed in coach Allen's first two years with the franchise.

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