ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders have declined to exercise the fifth-year option on the contract of cornerback D.J. Hayden, the team's first-round draft pick in 2013, according to a league source.

As such, Hayden will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

Hayden was general manager Reggie McKenzie’s initial first-round draft pick, as the Raiders traded back from No. 3 to No. 12, though McKenzie said at the time he still would have selected Hayden third overall had he not found a willing trade partner in the Miami Dolphins.

Due to his draft slot, Hayden, who was seen by Raiders brass as a potential Mike Haynes emulation, would have made more than $8 million in 2017. Instead, he is slated to hit the free-agent market.

Hayden, who turns 26 in June, entered the NFL as a curious high draft pick considering he had nearly died on the practice field at Houston following a hit that damaged his heart. He did not play a full 16-game season until last year.

He started two of eight games he appeared in as a rookie, eight of 10 in 2014 and 13 of a career-high 16 games last season.

In those 34 career games, 23 starts, Hayden has three interceptions, for no return yards, with 20 passes defensed and a sack.

After the free-agent signing of Sean Smith, Hayden could compete with David Amerson, who had four INTs in 14 games after being a waiver claim, for the second starting cornerback position. Or, Hayden may be relegated to the nickel spot, with Neiko Thorpe.

The Raiders did not draft a cornerback this weekend, rather, they went with strong safety Karl Joseph, defensive end Jihad Ward, defensive end/outside linebacker Shilique Calhoun, quarterback Connor Cook, running back DeAndre Washington, outside linebacker Cory James and guard Vadal Alexander.