Oakland Raiders Free Agent Linebacker Options

Vontaze Burfict is suspended for the season. It is unclear if that will stand but Burfict is for sure not playing this week versus the Bears. Oakland desperately needs to win to get passed .500 and upstage Khalil Mack’s Bears. 

Options

What do they do now to fill the void in the middle left by Paul Guenther’s favorite player dating back to Cincinnati? Let’s not forget the Raiders just lost Marquel Lee too. The position was already average on the best days. Oakland once again finds themselves looking for veteran middle linebacker help mid season. You might remember last season they cut Derrick Johnson in the middle of the year and two years ago they signed Navarro Bowman. The Silver and Black still have over $20 million in cap space they could use to find a veteran to take over Burfict’s role. Who can come in and help the Raiders in the middle as well as a captain now? 

Mason Foster 

Foster is from Seaside which isn’t too far from the Bay area. Last year, he started every game for Washington and recorded over 131 combined tackles. He threw in a couple of fumble recoveries and interceptions too. Foster offers experience playing multiple spots in multiple defenses and he is 30 years old. Washington surprisingly cut him but the Raiders could use him.

Vincent Rey 

What better way to replace Burfict than a player who has done it before? Rey played alongside Burfict and also filled in for him in Cincinnati. The 32-year-old knows Guenther’s defense and can play multiple spots. His production and game time tailored off the past two seasons but his experience makes him worth at least a look for the Raiders. 

Brandon Marshall

Marshall spent the entire offseason with the Raiders so he should know the defense. He knows the division from his time in Denver too and also played multiple positions in multiple schemes. Marshall was surprised cut as well. Unfortunately, he wasn’t exactly healthy last year or this offseason. He only had 42 combined tackles with Denver last year but the Raiders didn’t let that stop them from giving him a shot before

Jason Cabinda

Speaking of rehashes, the Raiders invested a lot of reps in Cabinda by letting him play in 10 games last year. He became a favorite on Hard Knocks this year. Cabinda got surprisingly cut this year before joining Detroit. Oakland should revisit bringing him in like they brought back Doss after AB. He too knows the scheme as well as the players. Plus, he’s only 23. 

Everyone Else

The veteran linebacker field isn’t exactly loaded. 

Manti Te’o, anyone? 

NaVarro Bowman, sorry we never called you last year, are you up? 

Malcolm Smith, James Cowser or Ben Heeney? Been there done that. 

Point is, inside linebackers aren’t easy to come bye this late. Maybe the Raiders will learn their lesson and draft one next year. 

Either way, the best bet is probably giving Mason Foster a cal,l so he can learn the defense ASAP.