Deal Between Raiders And NaVorro Bowman Only A Matter Of Time?

With Jon Gruden now calling the shots in Oakland, the Raiders have a new way of doing business.

But some habits die hard and one lingered theme from Reggie McKenzie’s day in the sun has carried over into the latest Gruden era: the Raiders still can’t seem to settle on a middle linebacker.

Tahir Whitehead is the closest the Raiders have come to finding a middle linebacker in the offseason, but McKenzie acknowledged shortly after Whitehead was signed that the team would prefer to play him on the outside.

That makes NaVorro Bowman the obvious choice to return at middle linebacker, but the Raiders and Bowman’s agent can’t seem to agree on his value.

35 year-old Derrick Johnson visited the Raiders on Thursday, but left without a contract.

Derrick Johnson has left the building. Doesn’t mean the door is closed though. #Raiders

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 4, 2018

Maybe a little nudge to Bowman to move the process along?

Bowman is about five years younger than Johnson and is the superior linebacker at this point in their careers – an opinion shared by Pro Football Focus analytics.

Comparing the 2017 seasons for the #Raiders free agent options at linebacker:
Derrick Johnson 77.3 PFF grade, 33rd ranked LB
NaVorro Bowman 84.8 PFF grade, 11th ranked LB

Join PFF to get our data for every NFL player: https://t.co/vvyE8tUVng

— PFF OAK Raiders (@PFF_Raiders) May 3, 2018

Bowman lives in the Bay Area and the Raiders have a need at middle linebacker that rivals any team in the league.

It doesn’t seem complicated.

Eventually the two sides should be able to find common ground. It just makes too much sense… and most Raider fans would agree that Bowman is a better option than the former Chief, anyway.

Would you rather have Derrick Johnson or Navorro Bowman? #Raiders

— Bandido (@Oklandraida84) May 3, 2018

Then again, Johnson is getting up in age. Some might say that gives him an edge over Bowman in Gruden’s eyes.

(Some gentle humor for your Friday morning)

twitter: @raidersbeat