Do Oakland Raiders Really Need ILB Zach Brown?

The Oakland Raiders are among the finalists to sign free agent linebacker Zach Brown. But does the team really need him to have a solid defense.

The Oakland Raiders are one of the many teams that put in a bid for ILB Zach Brown this offseason. And he still remains unsigned as he is now thinking about where he wants to go. The Raiders and the Miami Dolphins are the two finalists for his services.

The same way he waited for Dont’a HIghtower to sign, the ILBs under him are waiting for him to sign. How much he signs for will likely set the value for the rest of the ILBs. But like mercurial RB Adrian Peterson, Brown is taking his time to sign.

He reportedly could wait as long as the draft to sign with the team he chooses. He wants to see if someone gets desperate for an ILB so he can get his $6 million a year. That has been his asking price all along and no one is willing to give it to him right now.

Instead of playing the waiting game with Brown, the Raiders should just re-sign Perry Riley Jr. He came in and played very well, making a big difference on the defense. Malcolm Smith, the other ILB, was the wink link on the defense and he is now a San Francisco 49er.

The Raiders picked up Jelani Jenkins, who last played for the Miami Dolphins, in free agency. He just had a bad year while gutting it out with a knee injury in 2016. But he’s a good player the would do well with Riley in the middle of the Raiders defense.

I know Brown is coming off a great statistical season but the analytics slightly favor Riley. Riley ranks just slightly above Brown according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. So the Raiders don’t need to go crazy or even wait on a player who had one breakout season anyway.

The Raiders would be just fine with Jenkins, Riley, Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin at the LBs.