The Las Vegas Raiders need proven pass rushers in Gus Bradley’s system, and Leonard Floyd could be of help.
The Raiders will be retaining David Irving and already have Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell in the fold, as far as pass rushers. However, the Silver and Black will need to stockpile a little bit more for the 2021 season. There’ll be a plethora of EDGE prospects in April but as we’ve seen, Raiders brass likes its veterans.
Floyd was a former first-round pick back in 2016 and never fulfilled the potential that comes with being an early pick. However, the ninth overall selection of that year came on strong for the Los Angeles Rams last year. Would this resurgence be enough to warrant a hefty payday with the Raiders? Perhaps.
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Should the Raiders take a flyer on Floyd?
The Silver and Black should tread lightly, this could be a case of fool’s gold. Floyd had a solid career though he peaked his rookie year with seven sacks and six tackles for a loss. Surprisingly, the Georgia product reached double-digit sacks for the first time in his career, totaling 10.5 with the Rams. As a side note, Floyd had a 65.3 Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grade last year. He’s solid in that department but hardly ‘elite’ meaning any team should be careful in overpaying.
Technically an outside linebacker, Floyd could be signed on a flyer, maybe one or two years max, and be brought in to strictly rush quarterbacks. Right now the Raiders aren’t in a position to overspend on ‘potential’ and surely they want to see what they have in Cory Littleton before dropping serious money on another outside linebacker.
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*Top Photo: Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG