Outside Linebacker
Anthony Barr
Barr solves a little of everything at the linebacker position for the Oakland Raiders. He’s a stout run defender and solid pass rusher. His Achilles heel is that he can be a liability in pass coverage, so it would be wise of defensive coordinator Paul Geunther to not leave him in coverage constantly. I cannot overstate how fantastic of a disrupter Barr is in the pass game.
He’s gotten better year after year in that department and it showed last season. Pro Football Focus saw Barr earn a 79.7 grade (seventh-best among qualifying linebackers) and produced a pass-rushing productivity of 13.8, which ranks first among linebackers this season. Barr will be 27 years old when the season comes along, so his upside is a great deal breaker for signing him.
K.J. Wright
Talk about a linebacker that does a little of everything. K.J. Wright fits right into the mold as an all around linebacker. Wright is not in the elite status when it comes to the position, but he has been exceptional in every season of his career. That’s because he does everything well. He can be a liability in coverage at times, but is definitely better than your average linebacker.
He’s at least significantly better than what the Raiders have at linebacker currently. Wright plays with a full head of steam. He rarely misses tackles and can shoot a gap fast on a blitz. He’s a player that I would bet on that is on Jon Gruden’s list in free agency. He’s a grinder, or should I say a Gruden grinder. The big hesitation with Wright would be his cost and his age. Is it worth paying a lot for a player at 30 years old?
Shaquil Barrett
A potential hidden gem in the pass rush department could be Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett. Barrett’s career was soaring high up until the Broncos drafted Bradley Chubb in last years draft. That drastically cut into Barrett’s snaps, thus his production took a hit. Clearly, taking a backseat isn’t optimal for a player like Barrett.
That’s why it would behoove him to sign with the Oakland Raiders who had the worst pass rushing group in the NFL last season. Barrett would easily elevate that department and be used heavily. The best and worst part of it all is that he is 26 years old. His upside is fantastic, but that exact reason is why he’ll surely demand a high sum.