Oakland Raiders sign first-rounder Karl Joseph

Safety Karl Joseph signed a four-year deal with the Oakland Raiders worth $11.89 million, including team option for a fifth year.

Joseph, a hard-hitting safety from West Virginia, will wear No. 42, befitting the comparisons he's drawn to all-time great Ronnie Lott. He was the 14th overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Joseph, 22, was at the team facility in Alameda for the first time Monday for rookie minicamp. He was not hosted by the Raiders before the draft and spent April 28, the date of the 2016 NFL Draft, in Haiti.

Part of a concerted effort to upgrade the secondary, Joseph is projected as a starter at safety. He played 42 games at West Virginia despite a season-ending knee injury in October and tallied 284 tackles with a school-record eight forced fumbles and eight interceptions.

Joseph can play in the box or as a single-high centerfielder behind man coverage.

General manager Reggie McKenzie set out to upgrade the defense in the offseason and signed free agents in cornerback Sean Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs and safety Reggie Nelson while landing linebacker Bruce Irvin from the Seattle Seahawks.