The Raiders are circling back to Mychal Kendricks. After discussing a deal with the veteran linebacker this summer, the team will bring him in for a visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
This follows the Seahawks’ meeting with their former starter, which took place earlier this week. Kendricks has been a free agent since March, being unattached while rehabbing an ACL tear. Medically cleared in July, Kendricks receiving renewed interest from teams points to the linebacker being at or close to 100%.
Kendricks spent the past two seasons with the Seahawks and played extensively alongside Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, with the team using its base defense frequently. Kendricks recovered from an injury that ended his 2018 season, starting 14 games last season. The ACL tear in Week 17 shut him down again, however.
The former six-year Eagles starter has 91 career starts’ worth of experience. Despite being a career off-ball linebacker, Kendricks has 19 sacks. He served as a three-down player for Philadelphia’s 2017 Super Bowl championship team. While the insider trading charge ended Kendricks’ Cleveland stay, sentencing has been delayed several times in that case. With no news on that front in months, it appears the 30-year-old defender will be free to play a ninth season if signed.
Kendricks would need to navigate the NFL’s increased COVID-19 protocols to sign with the Raiders; these new barriers may make it difficult for him to be available by Week 6. The Raiders already spent this offseason to bolster their linebacking corps, signing Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski to free agent deals.
He wouldn’t need to be ready by week 6 cause the Raiders are on a bye week.
Isn’t it a little strange that Seattle has 2 LB’s out- both Bruce Irvin and 1st rd draft pick Jordyn Brooks, and yet they didn’t sign Kendricks despite a glaring need? MK is def towards the tail end of his career but he still reads the game better than their 2nd yr LB Cody Barton. I feel as if Kendricks isn’t fully 100% (game) fit yet?
I suppose its possible Jordyn Brooks coming back after the bye for week 7 made the decision for them? Either way I was really surprised the Hawks didn’t pick him up