Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
It’s no secret that the Oakland Raiders have one of the worst linebacking units heading into the 2013 NFL season. While they already added three veterans to the mix during free agency and one rookie via the 2013 NFL Draft, the Raiders could be interested in bringing another proven playmaker into the mix.
On Monday, the Green Bay Packers released veteran Desmond Bishop, which could open the door for the Raiders to swoop in and steal away a quality linebacker.
Even Steve Corkan of the Contra Coast Times believes that Bishop could be a target for the Raiders, mentioning the possibility that “they make a run” at him, also calling him a “solid player.”
So far this offseason, the Raiders have shown a willingness to add injury-prone veterans to the mix. They brought back former first-round pick Charles Woodson and signed Josh Cribbs to provide some support in the return game. It’s worrisome that Bishop is coming off a ruptured hamstring that forced him to miss the entire 2012 season, but when healthy, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
While the Raiders do have decent linebacker depth at this point in the offseason, Bishop would be a definite upgrade. If brought aboard, he could push Nick Roach out of the middle linebacker spot and back to his natural strong-side position. That would likely push rookie Sio Moore to the bench, where the third-rounder would be able to learn behind a solid group of veterans while rotating in.
It’s all speculation at this point, especially considering that Bishop was released only a few hours ago. Seeing as he already has a visit scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings, the Raiders will need to act fast if they want to have any say in where the veteran lands.
Stay tuned.
Gil Alcaraz IV is a Content Planner/NFL Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
