Not being on a roster right now doesn’t mean a player is not worth signing. After all, there are several players out there who most would be shocked if they weren’t on an NFL roster this season, perhaps even as starters.
For now, however, things have slowed to a standstill in the free agency market, probably until players take the field again and coaches get a better idea of what kind of talent they have.
Teams have picked through the free agents out there, drafted their players and signed their undrafted free agents and reached their 90-man rosters. Including the Raiders.
Several Raiders players have found homes on other teams. Some signed early in free agency like Karl Joseph (Browns) while others were signed after the draft such as Daryl Worley (Cowboys) and Mike Glennon (Jaguars).
Some others who started games last season for the Raiders are still out there which means they could spend the remainder of the offseason without a roster to claim. There are eight players in particular who hit free agency and were not re-signed.
LB Vontaze Burfict
LB Will Compton
RB Isaiah Crowell
WR/RS Dwayne Harris
DL Dion Jordan
S Curtis Riley
DL Josh Mauro
DI Olsen Pierre
Probably the most surprising player still unsigned is Dion Jordan. The 30-year-old had two sacks in seven games last season despite playing out of position at defensive interior much of the time. And with the premium placed on edge rushers in the NFL, it would seem some team would be interested in bringing in Jordan the former number three overall pick, especially considering he should be pretty inexpensive.
Burfict’s career is probably over. And probably should be. He was suspended for the remainder of last season after a dirty hit in week four. No team is going to sign a player who is one hit away from an indefinite suspension.
Compton was signed off the street at midseason and would start the final four games with positive results. A return to compete for one of the linebacker spots seemed like it could be a smart move, but it wasn’t to be. Instead the Raiders completely overhauled the position.
Crowell was injured in the offseason before he could ever take the field; his second trip to IR in two seasons. Those injury concerns are likely what’s keep him from being signed.
Harris is one of the smartest return men and special teams mavens in the NFL. But he’ll be 33 at the start of the season and he isn’t flashy so he isn’t in demand.
Mauro was among the first players the Raiders signed in free agency last offseason. He started the first seven games of last season before Maxx Crosby showed himself to be an every-down player.
