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Oakland Raiders: Free Agents to watch in the Super Bowl

By Thomas Wheaton

FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 02: Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots reacts during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Gillette Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 02: Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots reacts during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Gillette Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Dante Fowler #56 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates his sack and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter during a 36-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)DE/LB Dante Fowler Jr.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Dante Fowler #56 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates his sack and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter during a 36-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)DE/LB Dante Fowler Jr. /

DE/LB Dante Fowler Jr.

Since being the third overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Dante Fowler has experienced the ups and downs the NFL. Prior to even playing a snap for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015 Fowler tore his ACL, resulting in him missing the entirety of the season. He bounced back in 2016 with an average season, but that is to be expected after rehabbing a torn ACL.

In 2017 Fowler had a solid season and was a vital piece of the Jaguars defense that took the NFL by storm. After a solid showing in his second season, expectations rose for Fowler. Unfortunately, he was unable to meet those expectations and was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for a pair of middle round picks. For a former third overall pick, that seemed like chump change.

Since joining the Rams Fowler has once again flashed his potential and made multiple big plays en route to this Super Bowl appearance. This offseason Fowler will be an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can sign anywhere he so chooses. Although his uptick in production in the second half  of the season is enticing, the Raiders should be careful. Some of Fowler’s production can, and should, be attributed to the spectacular amount of talent around him.

The Raiders do not have guys like Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald on their defensive line. To expect Fowler to be as productive with inferior talent around him would be foolish, but it would be even more foolish to not attempt to bring him to the dark side. Fowler is young, talented, and hungry to prove himself. Perhaps a fiery head coach like Jon Gruden can find a way to get the best out of Fowler. Nonetheless, he is a player to keep an eye on this weekend and into the offseason.

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