Top-3 Raiders bargain signings of 2022 for Las Vegas
Jayon Brown: 1y, $1.25M
The Raiders switched their defensive scheme for the first time in five seasons, transitioning from a 4-3 to a base 3-4. Amid their scheme switch, there laid one problem: No linebacker on the roster had experience in a 3-4. Luckily for Las Vegas, they snatched up Jayon Brown for just over $1M.
A full-time starter for the last three seasons in Tennessee, Brown has played in a 3-4 for the entirety of his NFL career. This includes 66 contests, with 39 starts at the position. During his time in the NFL, Brown has broken up 28 passes, grabbing an additional 4 interceptions, and forcing 4 fumbles. The former Titan has also produced 385 tackles, including 9.5 sacks.
Brown is coming off of the worst-graded season of his NFL career, per PFF, but has earned a grade north of 66 in the three-years prior. Now, the UCLA alum is poised to start in the Raiders’ 3-4 defense, bringing a veteran presence with experience in this front to a linebacker core that has struggled mightily in recent years.
Patrick Graham, the defensive coordinator in Las Vegas, plans to rotate between a 3-4 and 4-3, with the 3-4 front being the Raiders’ main look.
The one flaw of Brown is his lack of versatility. The former Titan is strictly an inside linebacker, and that’s where he’ll play in all 3-4 schemes. When in this front, Raider Nation should see rather quickly why Brown landed on this list of bargain free agent signings.