Las Vegas Raiders: Grading defensive free agent additions
Las Vegas Raiders: Grading defensive free agent additions
Nicholas Morrow – Linebacker, Las Vegas Raiders
It’s a one-year, $5 million deal with $4.5 million fully guaranteed
Nicholas Morrow was a player that some thought was on the roster bubble in the 2020 offseason but he stuck around and was one of the best players on a terrible defense. Morrow went from undrafted free agent in 2017 to a near full-time starter for the Raiders and big-time contributor.
In 14 games, Morrow racked up 78 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and an interception as he outshined the two big-money free-agent linebackers the Raiders signed in 2020. He quickly became an indispensable player and his absence in losses to Buffalo, Los Angeles, and Miami were all noticeable as the Raiders struggled to replace him.
Morrow is still a young player at just 25 years old and though he tested the open market he may, like many other players this offseason, have chosen to take a one-year deal and look for a larger contract once the cap is expected to go up next offseason. He was reportedly intrigued by playing in Gus Bradley’s system as it is similar to what former DC Ken Norton Jr. ran when Morrow first came to the league in 2017.
The money is right and the fit is obvious as Morrow has been around the organization for 4 years and has developed into a solid player. He will be motivated to prove last year was no fluke and that is mutually beneficial for all parties.