Oakland Raiders add another Penn State LB as an UDFA

After the 2019 NFL Draft, teams got busy bringing in undrafted rookie free agents, and the Oakland Raiders revisited Happy Valley.

The Oakland Raiders brought in nine new players during the three-day 2019 NFL Draft, adding solid talent on both sides of the ball. In fact, you could see all nine of the draft picks making the team this summer, and contributing in a big way as a rookie.

Throughout the three days, the Raiders focused their efforts on the areas of need, bringing in three defensive ends, as well as a running back, tight end, and safety. Those were areas that really needed help entering the draft, and you have to believe first-year general manager Mike Mayock did his job in a very effective way.

After the draft ended, it was time for teams to get busy bringing in undrafted free agents, and the Raiders went back to a familiar source to get one. Last year, Jon Gruden signed Jason Cabinda, a linebacker out of Penn State as an UDFA, and in 2019, he went back to Happy Valley to get himself another linebacker from Linebacker U.

That player is Koa Farmer, who is not only productive on the field, but someone who fits the mold of the kind of players this regime is bringing in. Farmer won the Ridge Riley Memorial Award last year at Penn State, which is given to the player who exhibits sportsmanship, leadership, and friendship.

On the field, Farmer had his best season at Happy Valley, racking up a career-high 52 tackles. The native of Glendale, California started all 13 games for head coach James Franklin, playing huge on a defense that once again made Penn State one of the best teams in college football.

As a Penn State fan myself, I love this addition, and based on his talent level, he is a guy who could seriously challenge for a roster spot next season. Cabinda came out of nowhere to be an incredibly productive for the Raiders in year one, and you have to think Gruden loved the kind of work ethic he showed in 2018.