The Raiders haven’t announced the injury status of Nicholas Morrow or Javin White, but all indications are that both players are expected to miss at least the remainder of the preseason.
Even before the injury to White, the Raiders were known to have interest in former Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright, who is believed to be taking his time and waiting for a better offer from the Raiders or one of the other teams interested in him.
“[Signing Wright] makes sense, [but] a person with knowledge of the situation indicated money is a factor in terms of Wright’s asking price and the Raiders spending comfort,” Vinny Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Monday. “The Raiders have the NFL’s seventh-highest payroll and just over $2.2 million in cap space. For a deal to work [with Wright], it will require both sides to make adjustments.”
In terms of their negotiations, the Raiders unwillingness to break the bank on Wright is probably tied to that fact that he has only one Pro Bowl (2016) on his resume and isn’t exactly in the prime of his career. Wright does have familiarity with Gus Bradley’s scheme, but at 32 years-old, his history with Bradley is only worth so much.
Until the Raiders open up more about the severity of the injuries to Morrow and White, it’s hard to know how desperate they are to address their depth at linebacker… which is probably the reason they aren’t saying much.
For now at least, we know the Raiders have reached out to a couple other free agent linebackers, but Wright seems to be their preferred choice if his asking price comes down in the not-too-distant future.
Among the Raiders alternative options at linebacker…
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They could waive Rashard and pick up another 3.4 to offer