Oakland Raiders free agency: Vontaze Burfict grade, reaction
The linebacker position in Oakland was a weakness heading into the offseason, but the Raiders upgraded with a former Pro Bowler on Tuesday.
If it wasn’t a lock that the Oakland Raiders would be on HBO’s Hard Knocks before, then it definitely is now. The Raiders have signed former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. The Bengals released Burfict within the last couple of days after he recorded a poor 2018 season.
He suffered two concussions during the season that limited him to seven games. Other than that Burfict has been a relatively good linebacker, but has a troubling history since he’s labeled as a dirty player. There has been plenty of instances of him twisting ankles in piles or his most recent spat with Antonio Brown in the last two seasons.
However, his relationship with Brown is a moot point. There is no beef between the two nor will it effect the locker room. Signing Burfict now makes the linebackier corps quite feasible.
Contract details
Raiders gave former Bengals’ LB Vontaze Burfict a 1-year, $2 million deal that includes $300K guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2019
National reaction
Vontaze Burfict said Paul Guenther was the second person he called after the Bengals cut him. PG didn't pick up. "I called him like seven times straight."
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) March 20, 2019
Burfict on Antonio Brown:"We're on the same team. It's one goal. It's all positive, man. He's a great player. ... I'm going to approach him just like I do all my other teammates. ... There's nothing negative here. We're on the same team. We're trying to win a championship here."
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 20, 2019
Though he can play WLB (as he did with Bengals) #Raiders planning on lining up Burfict at MLB, source said. Whitehead remains at WLB.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 20, 2019
Grade
C. . Linebacker. Oakland Raiders. VONTAZE BURFICT
Vontaze Burfict is most likely just a one-stop player given the fact he signed a one-year deal. There is a chance that if he plays well the Raiders will try to retain him. It only makes sense considering Burfict excelled in Paul Guenther’s system, which may have been the reason he saw a major drop off in 2018.
However, it’s hard to see Burfict as a significant signing. Yes, he’s an upgrade at linebacker, but isn’t a player for the future. From injuries to suspensions, Vontaze Burfict is a liability.
Next. Raiders the most improved so far in free agency. dark
His signing might even have draft implications as well. The Raiders could feel that with Burfict that they don’t need to address linebacker until the later rounds. That is how Paul Guenther feels about drafting linebackers anyways, that he can take one in the late stages and just mold them into his system.