Las Vegas Raiders turned to the free-agent market in an attempt to address their struggling linebacker core. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Raiders are hosting veteran Mychal Kendricks for a workout this week.
Kendricks spent 2019 with Seattle Seahawks, starting 14 games and delivering a solid campaign in which he had 71 tackles, 3.0 sacks, four pass deflections, and one interception. The 30-year-old g linebacker tore his ACL in the final Week of the past season, causing him to remain a free agent until now.
Raiders discussed a deal with Kendricks in the summer but opted not to sign him at the time. However, with a glaring need at LB position, the organization might be more motivated to get the deal done this time around.
During the offseason, the Raiders spent big on linebackers, signing Cory Littleton to a three-year, $35.25 million deal and giving Nick Kwiatkoski a three-year, $21 million contract. So far, these deals didn’t pan out the way the team hoped for, as both men struggled to make an impact in 2020.
Littleton was inconsistent for most of the time he spent on the field in the past five weeks and only has 27 tackles to show for. Kwiatkoski, on the other hand, was even less productive while missing two games due to an injury.
Mychal Kendricks entered the NFL in 2012 as Philadelphia Eagles. He spent six years with the franchise and was part of the Super Bowl LII winning squad. Kendricks left Philly in 2018, and after a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns, settled in Seattle.
Kendricks’ career stats include 549 tackles, 19.0 sacks, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and 31 pass deflections.
