Raiders ink cornerback David Amerson to extension

The Raiders and cornerback David Amerson have reportedly agreed to a four year extension worth up to $38 million.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted the news Friday afternoon, though attempts to reach out and confirm the information went unanswered at this time.

UPDATE 3:26 p.m. PST: Amerson’s representation, Universal Sports Management, tweeted out confirmation Friday afternoon:

Happy to announce we have officially agreed to terms with the @RAIDERS for client @DavidAmerson1 #GrindBeforeGlory

— UniversalSportsMgmt (@UniSportsMgmt) July 15, 2016

#Raiders & CB David Amerson have reached an agreement on a 4-yr extension worth a max value of $38M, source said. Almost $18M in guarantees

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2016

Amerson was waived by the Washington football team after week two of the 2015 season, and the Raiders promptly jumped on the wire to claim his services.

Amerson was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL since that point in 2015, and the switch from a zone based system to man coverage is surely at least part of the reason.

Amerson still has one season left on his rookie deal, and if the details reported by Rapoport are correct, he will be a Raider until he is 30 years old. The turnaround from a team giving up so early on a second round pick to being considered a top up-and-comer in the NFL is astounding.

The 24-year-old picked off four passes, one for a touchdown, while also notching 26 passes defensed last season.

Amerson won Pro Football Focus’ most improved player award for 2015 after quarterbacks posted a 140.2 passer rating while throwing into his coverage during 2014, which was more than cut in half, down to a 62.7 rating.

Oakland signed cornerback Sean Smith in free agency, and the early indications that Amerson and Smith would be the top two corners for the Raiders are only strengthened by the extension.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated that 2015 was Amerson’s second season. Amerson was drafted in 2013, making 2014 his second season, and 2015 his third season.

Jason Leskiw is SFBay’s Oakland Raiders beat writer and member of the Professional Football Writers of America. Follow @SFBay and @LeskiwSFBay on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Raiders football.