It’s only the second week in March, but the NFL is already well ahead of its usual pace for transactions and roster moves for this time of year.
For the most part, the Raiders have been quiet but it’s only a matter of time before the moving and shaking starts in Oakland.
One of the major areas head coach Jon Gruden will need to address is the pass rush.
The Raiders finished tied for 24th in the league in sacks (31) despite having one of the NFL’s most dangerous pass-rushers in Khalil Mack.
Raiders play-by-play voice Greg Papa addressed the need on Friday and offered a cryptic reference to interest in a free agent that is familiar with Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.
“I think Bruce Irvin is going to come back,” Papa said Friday on his 95.7 The Game radio show. “I think there’s other people on the roster they’re going to look at and I think they can improve it through an inside pass rush.”
“There is a guy that played in Cincinnati that is a free agent that is an inside pass rusher that Paul Guenther knows to keep an eye on.”
The Bengals have only one defensive tackle hitting free agency this year and that is 32 year-old Pats Sims.
That isn’t who Papa is talking about.
More likely would be he’s talking about versatile defensive end Chris Smith who played well for the Bengals in 2017 in a very limited role.
Free agency rumors will really heat up the back end of this week & of course once “legal tampering” begins Monday. But I can say now #Bengals DL Chris Smith is expected to have a lot of interest – but reps have talked w/ the Bengals & the club is interested in bringing him back.
— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) March 7, 2018
For what it’s worth, Smith is only 26 and the Bengals are trying to bring him back.
If it isn’t Smith, who knows who Papa was talking about.
Geno Atkins isn’t a free agent until 2019 so he unfortunately doesn’t fit the description.
It’s possible the player is someone who played for Guenther prior to 2017.
Any guesses?
twitter: @raidersbeat