The Raiders resisted the offseason urge to re-sign veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman and for now at least, his full-time replacement looks like it might be 22 year-old Marquel Lee.
According to a report on Wednesday, Lee is holding off veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson through two weeks of training camp and could wind up with the starting job.
“Lee has responded and looks to have the leg up on the starting linebacker job,” said the Athletic’s Vic Tafur. “Former Chief Derrick Johnson figures to factor in on passing downs, though undrafted rookie Jason Cabina is also seeing a lot of reps in nickel.”
Since joining the Raiders in 2012, Reggie McKenzie has struggled mightily to find a long-term solution at middle linebacker. The position, even going back Rolando McClain, has become a Bermuda Triangle of underachieving and disappearing players, so the emergence of anyone at the position would be a welcome break from the status quo.
In unrelated news (or maybe not entirely), Bowman, who remains unsigned, recently put his San Jose home on the market for $4.2 million.
With a backyard like that, who can blame him for not rushing back to play?
twitter: @raidersbeat
Reggie McKenzie’s draft picks have been trash in, trash out. He barely even TRIED to find a legit starting MLB, picking up marginal LB’s in the middle-to-late rounds of the draft. I sure hope Lee has upped his game since last year because he was worthless out there…..
Finally with a new coaching staff ~ Player Development actually means something
McKenzie draft picks have not been trash, not all. Player development has. Jihad ward and Eddie vanderdoesn’t are wasted picks. I was on board with Melifonwu, but he made up for it with some late round talents. This years draft I absolutely love, including UDFA Baugh, Piniero, Cabinda. Cabinda an emotional leader…will make team