Denzel Perryman is a smart addition for the Las Vegas Raiders
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders are very thin at the linebacker position, and Denzel Perryman is a great addition to Gus Bradley’s defense.
It has been a rough summer for the Las Vegas Raiders cast of linebackers, as it seems that one of them gets injured every week. We have already seen Nicholas Morrow and Javin White go down with pretty significant injuries, ones that head coach Jon Gruden says could be a ‘ways away’ from healing.
Also, Nick Kwiatkoski has missed time this summer with injuries, and for the most part, a position group that was supposed to be deep was suddenly very thin at this crucial spot within Gus Bradley’s defense. On Wednesday, the Silver and Black brought in a Bradley favorite to ease some of the voids, adding former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman in a trade.
The trade for Perryman was a solid one for the Raiders, who not only got some help at the linebacker spot but also someone familiar with Bradley’s system thanks to their time together with the Chargers. It was a cost-effective move as well, as they will pay him less than $1 million this season, and are not financially obligated to him in 2022 and beyond.
Raiders defense must be improved in 2021
Last season, the Raiders defense was atrocious, finishing in the bottom-five of the NFL, and likely costing the team a playoff spot. Early on this summer, the defense looked to be turning the corner, playing very well against the Los Angeles Rams in joint practice, but since then, the wheels have fallen off in terms of the linebacker group.
With Perryman in the fold, the Raiders have a bit more depth now, as well as someone that Bradley would have not problem sticking into the starting lineup. He is still only 28-years old but has battled hip problems this summer, this after signing a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers back in March.
Overall, this is a smart, and safe signing by the Raiders, and you have to believe that Bradley had some major impact in this trade coming together. Las Vegas has one more tuneup in the preseason before getting ready for their Week 1 matchup against Baltimore, and Perryman is likely to figure into those plans in a big way.