The Raiders declined a fifth-year option Monday on cornerback DJ Hayden, making the 2013 first-round draft pick a free agent in 2017.
If the Raiders had exercised the option, Hayden, as the No. 12 pick in the first round, would have earned just over $8 million for the 2017 season. The Raiders made no announcement but a source familiar with the situation confirmed Hayden's name was not submitted to the NFL as having been retained for a fifth year.Hayden played in all 16 games for the first time in 2015, starting 13, with one interception and eight passes defensed.