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Oakland Raiders decline option on DB DJ Hayden

By The Sports Xchange
San Diego Chargers running back Donald Brown (34) tries to elude Oakland Raiders' DJ Hayden (25) while taking a pass from QB Philip Rivers 23 yards in the first quarter at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on December 24, 2015. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
San Diego Chargers running back Donald Brown (34) tries to elude Oakland Raiders' DJ Hayden (25) while taking a pass from QB Philip Rivers 23 yards in the first quarter at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on December 24, 2015. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

The Oakland Raiders will not exercise the fifth-year option on defensive back DJ Hayden, according to multiple reports on Monday.

Hayden has underperformed since being the 12th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. In fact, Oakland has beefed up its secondary this offseason and Hayden isn't even assured of making the Raiders' final roster.

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Hayden's fifth-year option would have been worth $8 million. He will make $675,000 in base salary this season with a $1.1 million roster bonus due at the start of training camp.

Hayden is now set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.

He started two games as a rookie and eight games in his second year when he was graded as one of the worst corners in the league. In 2015, he made 13 starts -- mostly because the Raiders' defensive backfield was beset by numerous injuries.

In March, the Raiders signed free agent cornerback Sean Smith to a four-year, $40 million contract.

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