The Las Vegas Raiders have gone out and improved their secondary. Per Todd Archer of ESPN, the Raiders have signed former Dallas Cowboy safety Jeff Heath to a two-year deal worth $8 million.
Interestingly, Heath is the third Cowboy to sign with the Raiders on Tuesday, joining veteran tight end Jason Witten and starting defensive tackle Maliek Collins.
Heath has spent the last three seasons as the starting strong safety for Dallas. In that time, the 28-year-old compiled 219 total tackles, 17 passes defended, 11 tackles for a loss, and four interceptions.
An injury kept Heath out for three games in 2019, but the seventh-year pro was still able to record 63 tackles, seven passes defended, and three tackles for a loss for the 8-8 Cowboys.
As for the Raiders, the team ranked 25th in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed per game and surrendered 33 passing touchdowns for the season, which was the fourth-worst mark in the league.
Last season, the Raiders primarily employed a safety duo of Karl Joseph and Erik Harris with nickel cornerback Lamarcus Joyner playing safety at times as well.
With Joseph a free agent this offseason, the signing of Heath will help the Raiders if Joseph signs elsewhere.
The Raiders also drafted Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram in the first round of last year's draft. A torn rotator cuff kept the hard-hitting safety out for all but one game in 2019, but the team is reportedly very high on him, and he should make an immediate impact next season alongside Heath and Harris.
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