Decamerion Richardson

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		27	—	3	57
2025		15	0	0	11
2024		12	0	3	46

Updated Jun 22, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Salary-cap math on Decamerion Richardson's contract works out to a C- Contract Value Index given the dead-cap exposure and term. Richardson's rookie deal carries a $1.2M average annual value across four years—a modest commitment on its face, but one that demands actual production to justify, and here the math breaks down: his 2025 season produced 11 tackles across 15 games with no interceptions, a statistical foundation so thin that the Raiders are essentially banking on developmental upside rather than proven output. For a second-year cornerback, even a cheap deal becomes poor value if the on-field return remains replacement-level, and Richardson's performance grade reflects exactly that gap—solid opportunity created by injury to a starter, but minimal statistical evidence he's ready to capitalize on it. The cornerstone of fair-value cornerback contracts at his tier demands at least credible starting-level production to offset the years of control and cap certainty; Richardson hasn't cleared that bar yet, leaving the team paying for potential rather than delivery. What salvages this from a worse grade is the rookie-deal structure itself—four years at $1.2M AAV keeps financial exposure manageable even if he doesn't develop—and the media narrative around his trajectory under Rob Leonard's system suggests the coaching staff sees a legitimate building block worth the patient investment. Still, until Richardson translates institutional confidence into interceptions and consistent coverage snaps, the contract remains a speculative bet at fair value rather than the bargain it would become if he emerges as a productive starter; the 2026 campaign will be decisive in determining whether this deal was prescient or merely a low-cost lottery ticket on a player who couldn't overcome his draft position.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Decamerion's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Tape review and box-score baselines converge on a D+ performance grade for Decamerion Richardson. The 25-year-old second-year cornerback is operating well below above-average threshold, with his 2025 season producing 11 tackles across 15 games—a modest output that reflects limited snaps and marginal impact in coverage situations. His most notable strength is durability; Richardson was available for nearly the full slate despite the Raiders' defensive chaos, which at least signals he can stay on the field in a scheme transition year. The critical weakness remains his inability to generate explosive plays at the cornerback position—no interceptions in his first two seasons is a red flag for a player tasked with starting-level responsibility, suggesting he's still learning to process receivers and locate the football in competitive situations. That said, the media narrative around Richardson has shifted sharply toward optimism following the Kyu Blu Kelly injury, with coaching staff and beat writers now positioning him as a legitimate starting candidate under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard's system rather than a roster-bubble afterthought. The gap between his thin statistical résumé and the institutional confidence being placed in him creates genuine stakes for 2026: he's been handed a real opportunity, but his on-field production has yet to validate the "player on the rise" framing that's building around him—making this offseason a make-or-break inflection point for his trajectory.

How Decamerion Compares at the Position

Decamerion Richardson ranks 195th of 272 graded cornerbacks by performance. That slots Decamerion between A.j. Woods (D+) just ahead and Chris Lammons (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Coverage volume around Decamerion Richardson produces a C+ sentiment grade in the current window. The narrative surrounding the 25-year-old cornerback has undergone a genuine shift from written-off fourth-round pick to legitimate opportunity play, driven primarily by the injury to Kyu Blu Kelly creating an opening at starting cornerback and media recognition that Richardson has transformed under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard's system. Beat writers and regional outlets now frame him as a "player on the rise" rather than a roster-bubble casualty, with the human-interest angle of his cousin's presence on the roster adding authentic goodwill that has generated fan investment—recent headlines explicitly cite that family connection as "invaluable to his development," creating the kind of relatable narrative that builds genuine intrigue. However, this optimism sits in direct tension with his on-field résumé: the 2025 season produced 11 tackles across 15 games with no interceptions, a C- performance grade that reflects a substantial gap between media narrative expectations and actual production to date. The Raiders' recent roster moves—signings of Benito Jones and Cameron McGrone alongside the release of veteran depth—signal internal confidence in Richardson as a building block rather than a temporary option, validating the coaching staff's public backing but also confirming the team remains in transition. The C+ grade ultimately captures a media consensus that 2026 is a make-or-break inflection point: Richardson has earned genuine intrigue and institutional support, but his statistical foundation remains thin enough that optimism is cautious rather than conviction, making him a player whose narrative could swing sharply depending on early-season performance.