In a shocking turn of events, the San Francisco 49er’s officially released veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman, per NBC Sports. Bowman shouldn’t have to move far, as the Oakland Raiders would be wise to call upon the former All-Pro linebacker for his services. The Silver and Black have a depleted linebacker core battling injuries coupled with lack of a veteran presence.
Would a short-term fix truly be the right answer for the defense?
Bowman would provide an immediate upgrade from a talent standpoint as well as provide veteran leadership to young linebackers like Marquel Lee, Corey James, and Nicholas Morrow. Currently, the Raiders are No. 25 in run defense, a problem that must be addressed if Oakland wants to remain a viable playoff contender. With communication also a concern on defense, Bowman would be a strong voice with a proven resume to anchor the Raiders defense moving forward.
Even current Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King has made things interesting with a recent Tweet via his official Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/MarquetteKing/status/918936307530731520
Is Bowman still the player he once was?
Bowman may not be the player he once was in San Francisco, having dealt with severe injuries, however, he has bounced back and remains an excellent open field tackler. The Raiders were desperate for a presence on the interior a week ago, as the Baltimore Ravens successfully milked the clock effectively ending a late Raiders comeback attempt.
This is all still speculation since we don’t know if any interest is genuine but more importantly, would the team even consider the price tag? Needless to say, Navarro Bowman should be in the Silver and Black sooner, rather than later.
*Video via NFL’s YouTube page, NaVorro Bowman was ranked #61 in last year’s NFL Top 100.